Smyrna man faces felony charge after Dewey arrest

A Smyrna man faces charges after being stopped June 1 for driving without headlights just after midnight in Dewey Beach.

Lt. Cliff Dempsey said about 12:18 a.m., an officer observed a black Buick sedan traveling south on Coastal Highway without headlights. The officer, in a marked patrol vehicle, immediately initiated a traffic stop upon making a U-turn at the intersection of Saulsbury Street.

The vehicle eventually stopped on Dagsworthy Avenue upon activation of the officer's overhead emergency lights and siren. The driver, identified as Darren Jeffcoat, 31, said he did not possess a driver's license but produced a Delaware ID card, Dempsey said. Further investigation revealed three outstanding warrants for traffic violations.

Subsequently, a Taurus Security 9mm firearm, with a fully loaded magazine and one round chambered, was recovered from the rear floor of the vehicle. Jeffcoat, upon verification, was determined to be a person prohibited from possessing a firearm. Furthermore, a small quantity of suspected marijuana was found in a bag inside the vehicle.

Jeffcoat was transported to the Dewey Beach Police Department for processing, where a blood sample was obtained pursuant to a search warrant issued by Justice of the Peace Court 7.

Charges filed against Jeffcoat are two counts of possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, third-offense felony DUI, possession of a firearm while under the influence and failure to have headlights on when required, Dempsey said.

The bond is $16,650, Dempsey said, and Jeffcoat is currently being held at Sussex Correctional Institution.