Lewes traffic stop yields three arrests
By LEWES — Three people were arrested Monday after being found in possession of guns and drugs during a traffic stop, Delaware State Police said.
Spokesman Senior Cpl. Leonard DeMalto said that, at approximately 7:20 p.m., a trooper on patrol saw a white 2001 Cadillac Deville parked at the Wawa at 17663 Dartmouth Drive. The trooper noticed the car had recently been reported as being involved in a shots-fired incident in the Milton area.
The Deville had also been seen being driven recklessly on Coastal Highway south after the shots were fired, Cpl. DeMalto said.
The trooper approached the vehicle at Wawa and saw that the front passenger, Samuel Mondestin, 19, of Seaford, had a handgun on his lap and subsequently attempted to hide it, police said. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Troopers also detained the driver, Gelber Sandoval-Velasquez, 20, of Seaford, and the rear passenger, Jocelyn Flores Estrada, 20, of Milton, without further incident. When Ms. Flores Estrada was being detained, troopers saw that she had been sitting on another handgun, which had an obliterated serial number, Cpl. DeMalto said.
The officers searched the Deville and recovered additional ammunition, along with the two guns. They also discovered that Mr. Mondestin possessed approximately 31.69 grams of Xanax pills, and Mr. Sandoval-Velasquez possessed approximately 43.57 grams of Xanax pills.
Mr. Mondestin was charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm while possessing a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a person under 21, possession of a firearm while under the influence, possession of a controlled substance and carrying a concealed firearm. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution, Georgetown, on $101,200 cash bond.
Ms. Flores Estrada was charged with possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a person under 21 and carrying a concealed firearm. She was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $60,000 cash bond.
Mr. Sandoval-Velasquez was charged with possession of a controlled substance and driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and drugs. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $2,700 cash bond.
