Police chase travels through Maple Dale Country Club

This story has been updated

DOVER - Some residents in the area of Maple Dale Country Club in Dover were awakened by police sirens going by their homes and a helicopter in the air late Monday night. 

At about 10:30 p.m. Monday residents in the area of the country club saw a heightened police presence in the Pine Valley neighborhood and others near the west Dover golf course. 

Delaware State Police spokesman Senior Cpl. Leonard DeMalto said that about 10:15 p.m., a trooper on patrol had attempted to stop a maroon Chevrolet pickup truck on Hartly Road in the area of Forrest Avenue in Dover after he observed several traffic violations.

However, police said, the driver of the truck fled from the stop and the trooper began pursuing. After some time, the pursuit continued into the Maple Dale Country Club, police said, where the truck drove over the golf course greens and through a fence.

Eventually the truck entered a ditch just outside of the golf course, and the driver escaped on foot. He was not apprehended, police said.

Golf course general manager Chris Aulita said Tuesday that no damage in connection with the incident had been located.

Carter Murphy, a resident of Pine Valley Road, said he heard sirens and a helicopter by his home right after going  to bed at about 10:30 p.m. on Monday. 

“I came outside to sirens blazing and the helicopter came by. It had a spotlight on and was looking through the trees,” Mr. Murphy said.

“Nothing like this happens here ever.”