MILTON COUPLE ARRESTED FOR GUN AND DRUG OFFENSES AT THEIR RESIDENCE
Milton, DE - The Delaware State Police took two subjects into custody, Randolph Gooner, 52, and Carey Rust, 47, both of Milton, Delaware, on felony gun and drug charges.
The arrests were the result of a search warrant executed at a Milton residence in mid-April 2024.
On April 12, 2024, at around 6:00 a.m., a combined team of the Sussex County Governor's Task Force, Sussex County Drug Unit, and Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team took action at a house on the 22800 block of Reynolds Pond Road in Milton, Delaware. The warrant, granted following an investigation into Gooner's suspected involvement in large-scale narcotics distribution, led to a significant find.
Detectives discovered Gooner in the driver's seat of a Chevrolet Silverado parked in the residence's driveway. Despite orders from the police officers, Gooner refused to exit the vehicle, leading to a brief physical altercation before he was eventually taken into custody.
Upon a thorough search, law enforcement officers found a loaded handgun and two oxycodone hydrochloride pills on his person. Further investigation led the police to search the house.
This significant operation underscores the commitment of our local law enforcement to combat and curb drug-related offenses in our community. As the case against Gooner and Rust progresses, more information will be updated.
A search of the home led to the discovery of the following items:
- 14 shotguns
- 6 rifles
- 4 handguns
- Approximately 30.28 grams of cocaine
- Approximately 51.66 grams of methamphetamine
- Approximately 8.48 grams of psychedelic mushrooms
- Various amounts of alprazolam, amphetamine, buprenorphine, clonazepam, homatropine methylbromide hydrocodone, oxycodone, and tramadol pills, for which Gooner was unable to produce a prescription
- Various paraphernalia to include digital scales and distribution/packaging materials
Troopers discovered that the Tacoma belonged to Gooner's significant other, Carey Rust. Troopers searched both vehicles following a trained K9, alerting officers to the presence of the odor of illegal narcotics in the vehicles.
A search of the Silverado led to the discovery of a rifle concealed in the trunk. A search of the Tacoma led to the discovery of five amphetamine and dextroamphetamine pills.
As a result of the drugs found in Tacoma, troopers obtained a warrant for Rust's arrest.
Randolph Gooner was taken to Troop 4, where he was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3, and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $453,950 cash bond.
- Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony) - 18 counts
- Possess with Intent to Deliver Controlled Substance Tier 3 Quantity (Felony) - 2 counts
- Possession of Controlled Substance Tier 3 Quantity (Felony) - 2 counts
- Possess with Intent to Deliver Controlled Substance Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
- Carrying a Concealed Firearm (Felony)
- Possession of Controlled Substance Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
- Possession of a Deadly Weapon by Person Prohibited who also Possesses Controlled Substance (Felony) - 9 counts
- Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony)
- Resisting Arrest
- Possess a Controlled or Counterfeit Substance except Human Growth Hormone without a Prescription - 3 counts
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia - 4 counts
On April 23, 2024, Carey Rust turned herself in at Troop 4, where she was charged with the crimes listed below, arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and released on a $2,000 unsecured bond.
- Conspiracy 2nd Degree (Felony)
- Possess a Controlled or Counterfeit Substance except Human Growth Hormone without a Prescription
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
