Teens charged in stolen vehicle investigation

LEWES, Del. – Delaware State Police have arrested four people, including two juveniles, in connection with a stolen vehicle investigation.

Just after 9:30 p.m. Monday, a trooper briefly saw a silver Kia Soul that had been reported stolen earlier that day, traveling on Nassau Commons Boulevard. Troopers searched the area and found the vehicle, occupied by two suspects wearing ski masks, traveling in the Whispering Pines neighborhood. The suspects, who were later identified as a 13-year-old male and 16-year-old male, fled on foot after abandoning the vehicle on a dead-end street.

Troopers found the 13-yea-rold hiding in a stranger’s shed and were able to take him into custody. While searching the area for the 16-year-old suspect, troopers made contact with two individuals, identified as 18-year-old Sean Rodgers and 18-year-old Tonia Perkins, at their residence in the 31000 block of Maple Court. The 16-year-old was eventually arrested after it was discovered that Rodgers and Perkins repeatedly lied to troopers about the suspect hiding in their home.

Rodgers was taken into custody, and troopers told Perkins that there would be a warrant on file for her at Troop 7. She turned herself in on Tuesday and was charged with hindering prosecution before being released on her own recognizance.

The 13-year-old was charged with receiving stolen property, wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony, possession of marijuana by a person under 18, resisting arrest, and third degree criminal trespass. He was released to the custody of his parent.

The 16-year-old was charged with receiving stolen property, wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony, and resisting arrest. He was also released to the custody of his parent.

Rodgers was charged with hindering prosecution and possession of personal use marijuana by a person under 21, and was released on his own recognizance.