Harbeson – Two men were arrested for possession of drugs after a traffic stop near Harbeson Thursday afternoon and one of the men was wanted for home invasion.
On Thursday January 13, 2022 around 4:00 p.m., members of the Sussex County Governor’s Task Force (G.T.F.) assisted the First State Fugitive Task Force and Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team (S.O.R.T.) with locating and apprehending Jhareed A. Ayers, 21 of Lewes, who was wanted by Troop 4 Major Crimes for a Home Invasion involving a firearm as well as an Aggravated Menacing complaint involving a gun out of Troop 7.
During surveillance efforts in the Lewes area, Ayers was identified as a rear seat passenger in a black Hyundai Elantra being driven by an 18-year-old female on Lewes Georgetown Highway. The vehicle pulled into the parking lot of the Dollar General located at 28168 Lewes Georgetown Highway, where Ayers was taken into custody without incident. Once in custody, Ayers was found to be in possession of 117 bags of heroin (0.819 grams) and approximately 2.69 grams of crack cocaine.
The front seat passenger, Jaliel Perry, 18 of Lincoln, was found to be wanted on three failure to appear capiases issued by Sussex Family Court. He was also taken into custody without incident and found to be in possession of approximately 2.08 grams of crack cocaine along with one ecstasy pill.
Ayers and Perry were both transported to Troop 7 in Lewes where Ayers was charged with two counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also arrested for an incident that occurred on December 16, 2021 in which he and two other suspects unlawfully entered a residence in the 17000 block of Needle Drive, Lewes. Once inside, they confronted a 57-year-old male victim with a handgun and struck him in the back of the head before fleeing the house with a safe that contained over $1,500.00 cash. At the time of the incident, three juveniles, ages 7, 4 and 3, were all in the house. In this incident he was charged with Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Burglary 1st (Home Invasion), Aggravated Menacing, Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited, Theft over $1500, Conspiracy 2nd, and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. None of the victims were injured.
Ayers was also arrested for Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Aggravated Menacing, Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited, and Offensive Touching stemming from a December 22, 2021 incident that took place in the 19000 block of Duffy Street in West Rehoboth. Jhareed Ayers is alleged to force a 53-year-old male standing outside that location at gunpoint to knock on the door to the residence. When a nearby car alarm went off, Ayers and a second unknown male left the area in a dark colored SUV. The male victim was uninjured in the incident.
Jhareed Ayers was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $353,300 total cash bond for all listed charges.
JHAREED A. AYERS
Jaliel Perry was charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was issued a $10,400 unsecured bond on the drug charges but was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $800 secured bond due to his outstanding capiases.
JALIEL PERRY
The 18-year-old female driver was released from the scene without being charged.
One of the suspects involved in the home invasion on Needle Drive has been identified as James R. Ayers, 20 of Lewes. He has not been arrested and detectives are currently searching for him. A third suspect has yet to be identified. Anyone with information on James Ayers location is 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 or via the internet at www.delawarecrimestoppers.com.
James R. Ayers