DELAWARE STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A MULTI-COUNTY VEHICLE PURSUIT WITH STOLEN VEHICLES AND MULTIPLE PEOPLE INJURED

State of Delaware - The Delaware State Police have arrested Jonathan Bennett, 32, and Hailey Warren, 20, both from Baltimore, Maryland, after pursuing two stolen vehicles early Friday morning.

A third suspect, Kyle Norman, 20, also from Baltimore, Maryland, is currently hospitalized due to injuries sustained in a vehicle crash that occurred at the end of one of the pursuits. Norman will be formally charged upon his release from the hospital.

Pursuits Begin with Stolen Vehicles

On June 20, 2025, around 5 a.m., a trooper on patrol observed a blue Hyundai Sonata closely following a blue Hyundai Santa Fe on Bay Road near President Drive in Dover. Both vehicles, with Maryland registration, were traveling southbound on Route 1.

A computer check revealed that the Santa Fe had been reported stolen on June 18, and the Sonata was reported stolen just hours earlier. Both thefts were reported to the Baltimore County Police Department.

When additional troopers arrived and attempted a traffic stop, both vehicles fled at high speeds, resulting in two separate pursuits.

Santa Fe Pursuit Ends in Crash

The pursuit of the Santa Fe, which was operating recklessly through Kent and Sussex Counties at excessive speeds, came to a halt when it abruptly braked, causing the pursuing trooper's vehicle to crash into the rear of the Santa Fe.

The pursuit ended when the Santa Fe lost control and crashed into a wooded area near South Old State Road and Dupont Boulevard in Georgetown.

The driver, identified as Kyle Norman, sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a hospital. Three passengers in the vehicle, including Hailey Warren and two minors (a 13-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl), were transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. The pursuing trooper also suffered severe injuries and was hospitalized.

A search of the Santa Fe revealed a screwdriver under the driver's seat, a common tool associated with vehicle theft.

Sonata Pursuit and Arrest

At the same time, troopers pursued the Sonata, which was also driving recklessly through Kent and Sussex Counties. Stop sticks were successfully deployed on Route 1 north of Cave Neck Road in Milton. Shortly after, troopers lost sight of the vehicle.

Later, they responded to reports of three individuals on bicycles knocking on doors on Oyster Rocks Road, claiming their vehicle was disabled. The individuals, identified as Jonathan Bennett, a 13-year-old girl, and a 10-year-old boy, were taken into custody without incident. A screwdriver was found on Bennett during a search.

The stolen Sonata was later found abandoned in the parking lot of Shell We Bounce Trampoline Park in Lewes. The ignition column had been damaged in a manner consistent with recent vehicle theft trends involving screwdrivers. Video surveillance confirmed that the 10-year-old boy was the driver of the Sonata during the pursuit, Jonathan Bennett was the front passenger, and the 13-year-old girl was seated in the back. Due to the nature of the offenses and the boy's age, he could not be criminally charged under Delaware law.

Charges and Legal Proceedings

Bennett, the 13-year-old girl, and the 10-year-old boy were transported to Troop 7. The minors were released to their respective guardians, while Bennett was charged with multiple felony offenses, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on an $11,000 secured bond.

Hailey Warren was also charged with multiple crimes, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $4,000 secured bond.

Kyle Norman remains in the hospital and will face charges including reckless endangering, vehicle theft, and fleeing police upon his release.

The investigation into these incidents remains ongoing, and further information will be released as it becomes available.

Disclaimer: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.