Wanted Man Tased and Arrested in Seaford After Fleeing Officer

Seaford, DE - On August 5, 2026 at approximately 9:17 a.m., an officer with the Seaford Police Department was on routine patrol in the 200 block of Front Street. The officer recognized a man wanted for Robbery-1st degree, shoplifting, and several probation violations from local jurisdictions.

The man was identified as Josiah Townsend. He was sitting on the porch of a residence when the officer approached him. Townsend concealed something under nearby clothing.

When the officer told him he was under arrest, Townsend ran and jumped from the porch, slipping in the mud.

The officer told him to roll onto his stomach and began putting his hands behind his back. Townsend then made a sudden reaching movement toward his feet.

The officer deployed his Taser. Townsend began complying with commands and was taken into custody without further issue.

A search of Townsend and the surrounding area turned up a bundle of heroin and .6 grams of crack cocaine.

In addition to his pending charges, Townsend was charged with resisting arrest, two counts of possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Townsend was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court and committed to the Delaware Department of Corrections on $30,000 cash bail.

Anyone with information on this case or any other criminal activity is asked to contact the Seaford Police Department through their Facebook page or by phone at (302) 629-6645. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Delaware Crimestoppers by calling (800) 847-3333 or by texting "KEYWORD plus your message" to 274637. Tips that lead to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.

Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.