Dover man arrested following pursuit
Troopers say a Dover man is behind bars after an initial traffic stop led to a short pursuit through the Camden area.
Police say 53-year-old Kenneth Watson was stopped around 1:00 p.m. Saturday near South Governors Avenue and Gunning Bedford Drive. According to authorities, Watson was stopped in the Rodney Village Shopping Center because police ran an information request on his license plate which apparently linked him as a suspect in a shoplifting investigation.
When the trooper came into contact with Watson, we’re told he gave the officer a false name. As the trooper was conducting a computer inquiry in the patrol vehicle on the name that was given, Watson reportedly started his car and began to drive away at a high rate of speed back onto South Governors Avenue and then southbound on South DuPont Highway.
During the pursuit, we’re told Watson struck a 2008 Dodge Charger that was traveling northbound on US13 but continued on without stopping and then turned into the parking lot of Price Honda and nearly struck four pedestrians.
Police tell 47 ABC he continued through the parking lot, across Peachtree Run, and across a residential yard to Vanessa Drive where he finally stopped his car before fleeing on foot. He was captured shortly after and taken into custody.
The 20-year-old operator of the Dodge Charger was uninjured in the crash.
Watson was apparently taken to Kent General Hospital by EMS after complaining of a medical issue unrelated to the incident. He is currently in the custody of Delaware Department of Corrections and faces charges including four counts of Reckless Endangering 1st, Disregarding a Police Officers Signal, Criminal Impersonation, Resisting Arrest, Driving While Suspended or Revoked, and various other traffic related offenses.
Troopers say they also have warrants for a shoplifting incident that occurred on February 1, 2015 at the Wal-Mart located in Cheswold when Watson allegedly removed two home theater systems from the store without paying.
