Teen arrested on drug, firearm charges in Laurel

LAUREL, Del. – A 17-year-old is behind bars after police say he was found with drugs and a firearm following a pursuit in Laurel.

According to the Laurel Police Department, the incident occurred around 12:20 p.m., Thursday as an officer was patrolling near the First Stop Gas Station on West Street in Laurel.

The officer spotted three juvenile males walking on West Street, one of which police say appeared to conceal a weapon in his waistband.

When police tried to stop them, two fled eastbound on 6th Street while the other, suspected of concealing a weapon, ran southbound on West Street.

Officers spotted the third juvenile still reaching in the front of his waistband and ordered him to stop. He complied after multiple commands and was detained, according to police. A pat-down revealed a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun concealed in his waistband. He was also found to be in possession of crack cocaine and Xanax pills without a prescription.

The juvenile was arrested and identified as a 17-year-old male from Salisbury. He was charged Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon A Firearm (Class D Felony), Possession of a Firearm by Person Prohibited (Class D Felony), Possession of Ammunition by Person Prohibited (Class D Felony), and Possession of Controlled Substance x2 (Class B Misdemeanor).

In addition to the new charges, he was found to have an active warrant issued by the Sussex County Family Court for Failure to Appear in reference to a February 2024 resisting arrest case. He was arraigned and committed into the custody of the Stevenson House Juvenile Detention Center in lieu of $7,900 secured bail.

This is an on-going investigation.