Two teens arrested following loitering incident in Laurel
LAUREL, Del. – Two teens were arrested following a loitering incident where police say they found an illegal firearm in Laurel.
According to the Laurel Police Department, the incident occurred around 1 a.m., Monday as officers were conducting a property check of the Hollybrook Farms Apartment Complex on Pasture Lane.
While patrolling the area, an officer spotted two teenage males on bicycles who police say had been loitering in the breezeways of multiple buildings and knocking on windows of an occupied apartment.
When the officer tried to make contact with them, they quickly mounted bicycles and rode away towards the front of the complex, according to police. Additional officers were already in the area and stopped both of them between the 300 and 400 buildings.
The two were both identified as 14-year-old males and were known to the Laurel Police Department from prior criminal investigations, according to police. One of them had also been involved in an April 2024 stolen vehicle pursuit.
Due to their age and time of night, the officers detained them for violating the town’s curfew. During a search, police say one of the teens was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm. The gun was found to have an obliterated serial number. Police say the other teen was found to be in possession of marijuana.
The teens were transported to the Laurel Police Department for processing.
The teen who was allegedly in possession of the firearm, who police say did not live in Hollybrook Apartments, was charged with the following crimes: Concealed Carry 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), Possession of Firearm with Obliterated Serial Number (Class D Felony), and Trespassing 3rd Degree (Violation). He was arraigned and committed to the Stevenson House Juvenile Detention Center in lieu of $10,050 secured bail.
The second teen, who police say did reside in Hollybrook Apartments, was charged with the following crimes: Possession of Marijuana Under 18 (Misdemeanor) and Loitering (Violation).
In addition to the above charges, the parents of both children were issued criminal summonses for the Laurel Town Curfew Ordinance, LA 0069004b, “Parent Allows by Innefficient Control Juvenile to Remain in Public Place After Curfew”.
While the ordinance has been active since 1998, the Laurel Town Council amended the age and time restrictions in response to the recent increase in Laurel’s juvenile-related violent crime. This is the first case where officers were able to use the ordinance to take a proactive approach against dangerous criminal behavior.
This is an on-going investigation. If you or someone you know has information related to this case or other criminal activity, please contact the Laurel Police Department at 302-875-2244.
