Delaware State Police have taken into custody 51-year-old Elvis Cruz of Newark, Delaware, following a pursuit in connection with multiple thefts and fleeing in a stolen vehicle. The incident, which culminated near Christiana Mall, began when a trooper, assigned to the Highway Safety Unit, was alerted to the presence of the stolen Nissan Maxima on September 26.
Initially cooperating with the trooper's instructions after being pulled over, Cruz decided to suddenly accelerate away, leading to a chase that temporarily lost law enforcement's eyes on the vehicle. Authorities were able to quickly relocate Cruz with the assistance of locals who pointed the troopers towards the direction he had fled. According to a Delaware State Police report, the pursuit concluded behind the Sonesta Suites in Newark where the suspect was arrested after a Taser was deployed during a short foot chase.
Investigations post-arrest revealed a pattern of thefts involving Cruz, including multiple incidents at Christiana Mall. Among the recovered items, authorities found clothing believed to have been shoplifted earlier that same day from Macy's, alongside other stolen goods retrieved from the stolen vehicle linking Cruz to thefts on the 23rd and 24th of September. Additionally, he was implicated in the theft of perfumes from the mall's Perfume Point on September 22, with the merchandise valued at over $1,500.
Cruz now faces several charges. The list includes disregarding a police officer's signal, receiving stolen property with a value over $1,500, theft of $1,500 or greater, and organized retail crime, alongside resisting arrest and other traffic-related offenses. Following his arraignment by Justice of the Peace Court 2, Cruz was released on three separate unsecured bonds totaling $12,102. This sequence of events demonstrates a noticeable pattern of organized retail theft that Cruz seemed to steadily be involved in.
