Fire/Police
Trooper, Suspect Injured in Long Neck Incident
By SUSSEX COUNTY ONLINE
Jan 18, 2005, 12:22

A Millsboro man was arrested Sunday, Jan. 16 following a high speed chase near Peddlers Village on Route 24, Long Neck. approximately 11:25 p.m., on State Route 24 in the area of Peddlers Village.

According to Delaware State Police reports, a trooper was dispatched to a domestic incident in the Long Neck area.  As the trooper was traveling westbound on Route 24, he learned the driver of a white Cadillac was involved in the domestic. 

The trooper then saw two vehicles traveling eastbound and clocked them at 93 mph. The first vehicle was a light colored car, so the trooper, believing that this might be the Cadillac, made a u-turn and began traveling eastbound.  The trooper caught up to the first vehicle and pulled it over in the area of Peddlers Village. 

The trooper approached the female driver and was told that the other car was chasing her.  The second vehicle, driven by  Jason R. Bender, 35, of Millsboro, was then headed toward the trooper.  The suspect vehicle did not appear to be stopping, which forced the trooper to take evasive action.  Fearing for his life, the trooper shot at Bender's vehicle, shattering its back window.

Bender continued eastbound and then turned right onto Camp Arrowhead Road.  The trooper began chasing Bender, who finally pulled over approximately two miles south of Route 24. 

Bender left his vehicle and ran toward the rear of it, and a struggle ensued between Bender and the trooper, which continued until other troopers arrived and Bender was placed under arrest.

The trooper and Bender were both treated at Beebe Medical Center for injuries sustained in the fight. The trooper sustained a broken hand, and the suspect sustained a broken nose and contusions.

Meanwhile, it was determined that the female and the Bender were involved in a domestic altercation at an establishment on Long Neck Road.  This domestic was not the same domestic incident that the trooper was initially dispatched to.

Bender was charged with DUI, resisting arrest, disregarding a police officer's signal, reckless driving, driving while suspended, and several other traffic offenses.  Bender was committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $1,479 secured bond.

The trooper, whose name has not been released by Delaware State Police,  has been placed on administrative leave per divisional policy.