Two arrested following pursuit in stolen vehicle

DOVER, Del. – Two people have been charged following a pursuit in a stolen vehicle Monday night.

At around 9:30 p.m., officers observed a white Ford Transit van in the area of South State Street and East Water Street. A records check revealed the vehicle was reported stolen, and the officer tried to stop the vehicle, however, the driver failed to stop and led police on a pursuit throughout the city.

The pursuit ended on Savannah Road when the vehicle got stuck in a field. The occupants, identified as 25-year-old Christopher Houck and 25-year-old Ontia Lofland, were taken into custody. Further investigation led police to link Houck to stealing a City of Dover vehicle over the weekend.

Houck was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, third degree criminal trespass, receiving stolen property, failure to stop on police command, and numerous traffic offenses. He was held at SCI on a $4,350 cash bail.

Lofland was charged with receiving stolen property and released on her own recognizance.