Smyrna man, Dover Police officer wounded by rifle discharge during arrest
By DOVER — A 22-year-old Smyrna man and Dover Police officer were injured after a departmentally issued rifle discharged during an arrest Monday, authorities said.
According to Dover Police spokesman Master Cpl. Ryan Schmid, the investigation began at 2:21 p.m., when members of the Dover Police Department’s Special Operations Response Team were attempting to contact Millard Richardson inside of a vehicle in the parking lot of the Sleep Inn Hotel.
Officers were attempting to arrest Mr. Richardson as the result of a firearm and gang investigation and had information that he had a firearm, which he is prohibited from possessing, police said.
When officers contacted him, police said, Mr. Richardson attempted to drive away, causing his vehicle to hit a Dover Police vehicle. Mr. Richardson refused to exit his vehicle, according to authorities.
Cpl. Schmid said officers broke the driver-side window to gain access to the car and due to the vehicle having dark window tint. During this time, police said, the rifle discharged.
Mr. Richardson and an officer both sustained injuries to their hands during this incident, police said.
Mr. Richardson was taken into custody without further incident and transported to Bayhealth Kent Campus for treatment. He was in stable condition with a finger injury, police said
The officer was cut in the hand and also transported to Bayhealth Kent Campus and was treated and released, police said.
The cause of the injury to Mr. Richardson and the cause of the firearms discharge is under investigation by the Dover Police Criminal Investigations Unit and the Delaware Department of Justice – Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust, according to Cpl. Schmid.
There were two other individuals in the vehicle at the time of this incident; a 24-year-old male from Dover and a 21-year-old male of Smyrna. Both were uninjured.
Detectives executed a search warrant on the vehicle that Mr. Richardson was operating, police said.
Authorities said detectives located the following items:
• A loaded Black Polymer 80 .40-caliber handgun, which was concealed between the driver’s seat and center console of the vehicle
• Over $1,000
• 219.6 grams of marijuana
• 56.7 grams of THC Wax
• Seven grams of marijuana edibles and oils
• A digital scale and other drug paraphernalia
• 15.5 doses of Xanax
Police said that after he was released from the hospital, Mr. Richardson was charged with:
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
• Possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person prohibited (three counts)
• Possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance
• Carrying a concealed deadly weapon
• Criminal mischief over $1,000 but less than $5,000
• Resisting arrrest
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
Mr. Richardson was released from custody after posting a $49,000 secured bail, police said.
Police said the officer involved in the incident is a 2 ½-year veteran of the Dover Police Department and is a member of the Patrol Division. Consistent with standard policy, the officer has been placed on administrative leave, with pay, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Cpl. Schmid said the Dover Police Department will continue to investigate this incident in coordination with the Delaware Department of Justice – Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust.
