Delaware State Police arrested a 57-year-old Wilmington man, following a bizarre string of 22 shootings of unoccupied disabled vehicles along Interstate 95 and 495 in Delaware. The incidents took in areas east of Newark to the Pennsylvania line.
- Weapons found.
An investigation was launched in mid June after troopers saw instances of vehicles being riddled with bullet holes in the overnight hours.
Troopers, assisted by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources Environmental Control Environmental Crimes Unit, conducted general surveillance of the corridor and found evidence through a video, which was not released as the investigation is ongoing.
- Saddler
On Saturday night, a trooper familiar with the investigation was traveling I495 northbound in the area of Edgemoor Road, when he saw a red 2009 Hyundai Elantra on the right shoulder of I-495 northbound, at a slow rate of speed.
After a traffic stop, the trooper determined that the driver, later identified as David F. Saddler, matched the suspect’s description seen in a late July surveillance video. Saddler was taken into custody.
A search of Saddler’s vehicle was conducted and a loaded Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun and a loaded Remington 22 caliber rifle were found under a blanket on the front seat of the vehicle. Troopers were able to connect Saddler to the previous incidents. A search of Saddler’s residence recovered several handguns and an additional shotgun, along with a large amount of ammunition.
Saddler is in Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $22, 500 cash bond.
