A Laurel councilman recently expressed ongoing concerns about recent violence in the streets in and around Laurel. During the Monday, April 15, meeting, Councilman Carlos Oliveras directed his comments to Acting Laurel Police Chief Tyler Bryant, who was in attendance at the meeting, representing the police department.
Oliveras’ comments come on the heels of a home invasion that occurred on April 6, at about 12:30 a.m. in the area of the 6900 block of Sharptown Road. According to Delaware State Police, troopers responded to a residence in Laurel for a report of a home invasion. The preliminary investigation revealed approximately five male suspects broke into the home, which was occupied by two teenagers. The suspects ransacked the home and fled with an undisclosed amount of property. No one in the home was injured.
This incident occurred along with Laurel Police Department’s monthly report that indicated that the department is involved in 11 on-going felony crime investigations and made eight felony arrests and seized three firearms.
“Last week was pretty violent, and obviously we need to calm all that down,” Oliveras said. “Is there any kind of strategy or something that can help us get ahead of that wave, not that we can predict it obviously, but get ahead of the wave in terms of how we’re going to police the streets this year, in light of what happened last year, possible retaliations, et cetera, et cetera. Is there anything that the police can do differently to enhance that, or at least enhance the awareness of that?”
Acting Chief Bryant said that the department is addressing the issues of violent crime and would be happy to discuss that in a private conversation. “That’s something I would be glad to discuss with you privately. But yes, there are proactive approaches that the department is going to be taking, and is currently taking, as far as street patrols and adding more patrols in certain areas. But as far as a more specific answer, I’d be glad to answer that off to the side,” he said.
Bryant said the police department will continue to be involved in the development of community events and opportunities for the police to be visible in the town and interacting with the public. He also said the department plans to host a citizen’s police academy to help promote more understanding about what the police do in their daily activities.
The Laurel community has been on edge in recent months due to high-profile violent incidents that have taken the lives of local youth. In November, a meeting was held at the Paul Dunbar Community Center, hosted by “Operation West Laurel,” a citizens group organized to find ways to help stop violence in the town.
Last year, on April 14, 18-year-old Laurel High School student, Corey Mumford was killed outside Wexford Village apartments. Arrests have been made in the incident and police said Mumford was not the intended target of the shooting.
On Sept. 10, 26-year-old Taylor German was shot and killed outside Little Creek apartments. She was in a vehicle with two other people, one of whom was also shot but survived.
Then on Oct. 30, three teenagers, including 18-year-old Kylee Robinson were on the porch of a residence in the 500 block of West 7th Street. Robinson was killed in the shooting and the two other teens were injured and hospitalized with wounds to the lower body.
Amy Handy, founder of OWL, addressed the audience, which included Delaware Gov. John Carney. She told Carney that the Laurel community is “devastated and heartbroken” and needs his help.
On Friday, April 12, at Carvel Gardens, a “Pop-Up Event” was hosted by the town and state of Delaware, designed to bring the community together and also provide residents with information about a variety of public resources that are available as a means to help address an improved quality of life. Representatives from mental health and substance abuse agencies were among the participants. Members of the Laurel Police Department and town council were in attendance. Another pop-up event is being developed to be held at the Holly Brook apartment complex in the near future.
