Smyrna man, Dover police officer injured by gunshot during arrest

DOVER — A 22-year-old Smyrna man and a Dover Police Department officer were both injured after a department-issued rifle discharged during an arrest Monday, authorities said.

According to Dover Police Department spokesman Master Cpl. Ryan Schmid, the investigation began at 2:21 p.m. when members of the Dover Police Department Special Operations Response Team attempted to make contact with Millard Richardson in a vehicle in the parking lot of the Sleep Inn Hotel. Officers were attempting to arrest Mr. Richardson as a result of a gun and gang investigation and had information that he was currently in possession of a firearm, which he is prohibited from possessing, police said.

When officers approached him, police said, Mr. Richardson attempted to drive away, causing his vehicle to strike a Dover Police Department vehicle. After causing the collision, Mr. Richardson still refused to get out of his vehicle, authorities said.

Cpl. Schmid said officers broke the driver’s side window to gain entry to the car and that the vehicle had dark window tint. During this time, police said, the gun went off.

According to police, Mr. Richardson and an officer both suffered injuries to their hands during the incident.

Mr. Richardson was taken into custody without further incident and transported to Bayhealth Kent Campus for treatment, police said. He was in stable condition with a finger injury, police said

The officer involved suffered injuries to his hand and was also taken to the Bayhealth Kent Campus, where he was treated and released, police said.

The exact cause of Mr. Richardson’s injuries and what caused the firearm to discharge are currently under investigation by the Dover Police Criminal Investigations Unit and the Delaware Department of Justice – Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust, Cpl. Schmid said.

There were two other people in the vehicle at the time of this incident; a 24-year-old man from Dover and a 21-year-old man from Smyrna. Both were uninjured.

According to police, detectives obtained and executed a search warrant for the vehicle Mr. Richardson was driving.

According to authorities, detectives found the following items during the search:

• A loaded Black Polymer 80 .40 caliber handgun concealed between the driver’s seat and the center console of the vehicle

• More than $1,000

• 219.6 grams of marijuana

• 56.7 grams of THC wax

• 7 grams of edible marijuana products and oils

• A digital scale and other drug paraphernalia

• 15.5 doses of Xanax

Once Mr. Richardson is released from the Bayhealth Kent Campus, police say he will be charged with the following:

• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime

• Possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person prohibited from doing so (three counts)

• Possession with intent to deliver a narcotic drug

• Carrying a concealed deadly weapon

• Criminal damage of more than $1,000 but less than $5,000

• Resisting arrest

• Possession of a narcotic drug

• Possession of drug paraphernalia

Police said the officer involved in the incident is a 2 1/2-year veteran of the Dover Police Department and a member of the patrol division. In accordance with standard policy, the officer has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation, authorities said.

Corporal Schmid said the Dover Police Department will continue to investigate this incident in conjunction with the Delaware Department of Justice – Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust and that additional details will be provided as they become available.