Seaford/Laurel - The Delaware State Police have arrested one man and are looking for two others in the tehft of bus batteries earlier in September.
The thefts occurred sometime through the nighttime hours of Tuesday September 13, 2016 into Wednesday September 14, 2016 at the Lambden Bus Company parking lot located in the 10000 block of Airport Road, Seaford and the Mary Bryant Inc. Bus Company located in the 30000 block of Dukes Road, Laurel. Around 6:00 a.m., bus drivers began showing up to start their busses and when they didn't start, they noticed batteries missing from the engine compartment.
The thieves removed 30 batteries by from 10 busses in the Lambden yard and 11 batteries from 5 busses in the Bryant yard.
On Thursday September 15, 2016, troopers responded to the 8000 block of Bethel Road, Laurel for a report of theft of 34 batteries from 17 busses parked on a farm. The busses, which are used to assist in harvesting watermelons, contained two batteries per bus which were all dismantled by unknown means sometime between September 8, 2016 and the date they were reported missing. Detectives learned later that same day that Thomas R. Johnson , 25 of Laurel, had scrapped a large amount of batteries at the Salisbury Scrap Metal located in Salisbury, Maryland. Further investigation revealed Thomas, along with Dominic J. Horsey, 28 of Laurel, and , Jason M. Hamilton, 29 of Laurel, had been utilizing the same scrap yard over the course of the beginning of the month to scrap various amounts of batteries in exchange for money.
Tuesday September 20, 2016 Jason Hamilton turned himself into detectives at Troop 4 in Georgetown where he was charged with Theft $1500 or Greater (Felony), four counts of Theft Under $1500, three counts of Conspiracy 3rd, and three counts of Criminal Trespass. He was arraigned at JP2 and released on a $7,000.00 unsecured bond.
Detectives are still looking for Dominic Horsey and Thomas Johnson who are wanted for Theft $1500 or Greater (Felony), four counts of Theft Under $1500, three counts of Conspiracy 3rd, and three counts of Criminal Trespass. If anyone has any information regarding the whereabouts of these subjects, they are asked to contact Detective C. Simpson at 302-752-3855. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."