Milton man arrested after traffic chase through Dewey

A Milton man is facing two felony charges after police say he led them on a chase Feb. 4, from Dewey Beach up to the Tanger Outlets.

Dewey Police Lt. Cliff Dempsey said officers were notified by Sussex County Communications Center of a white motorcycle whose operator was reported to have shown a gun to an unidentified motorist near Delaware Seashore State Park. Dempsey said Dewey police responded and located two motorcycles matching that description. When officers tried to stop the motorcyclists, they fled north on Route 1 at a high rate of speed and did not comply with officers’ emergency signals.

Dempsey said the pursuit went across the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal bridge and toward the outlets. At Route 1 and Sea Air Drive, one of the motorcycles, which had fake Pennsylvania plates, tried to make a U-turn. Officers were able to divert the motorcycle onto Sea Air Drive.

The operator of this motorcycle was Thai Reese-Hengel, 20, of Milton, police said. A gun was not recovered from his person. 

Reese-Hengel was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and charged with two felonies: disregarding a police officer’s signal and second-degree conspiracy, as well as aggressive driving, reckless driving, operating a vehicle without insurance and other traffic violations.

The second motorcyclist continued fleeing northbound and remains unidentified. 

Dewey police are urging anyone who witnessed the chase or has more information on the second motorcyclist to contact Dewey Beach Police Department at 302-227-1110 or Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-847-3333.