UPDATE: Welfare Check and Vehicle Pursuit Leads to Arrest of Wilmington Man
December 4, 2025/
UPDATE: 12 a.m. –12/4/25:
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Authorities have identified the man involved in yesterday’s welfare check and subsequent vehicle pursuit in the Bethany Beach area as Julian T. Lark 2nd of Wilmington. After an extensive search, Lark was found, evaluated by EMS, taken to Beebe Medical Center, and later returned to Bethany Beach Police for processing and a DUI investigation. Police say Lark already had a $50,000 cash-only capias for failure to appear, and he now faces numerous additional charges related to the pursuit, including felony disregarding a police signal, multiple misdemeanors, DUI drug, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, trespassing, reckless driving, and several traffic offenses. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and issued an additional $4,830 cash bail before being committed to Sussex Correctional Institution. Bethany Beach Police thanked several surrounding agencies for assisting in the incident.
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Additional Information from Bethany Beach Police:
Update on today鈥檚 welfare check that led to a vehicle pursuit.
The defendant has been identified as Julian T Lark 2nd of Wilmington, DE.
Following an extensive search, Lark was taken into custody. He was medically evaluated and transported by Bethany Beach EMS to Beebe Medical Center (South Coastal). Lark was later discharged and transported back to BBPD for arrest processing and DUI investigation.
Further investigation revealed that Lark had a capias for failure to appear with a $50,000 cash bail only.
A warrant was submitted and approved by Justice of the Peace Court 3.
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Julian T Lark 2nd
List of Charges resulting from the pursuit:
-Disregarding a Police Officer Signal (Felony)
-Criminal Mischief $1,000-$5,000 (Misdemeanor)
-Resisting Arrest (Misdemeanor)
-Malicious Mischief by a M/V (Misdemeanor)
-DUI Drug (Misdemeanor)
-Reckless Driving x4 (Misdemeanor)
-Criminal Trespass 3rd
-Driving without a Valid License
-Driving Vehicle at Unreasonable or Imprudent Speed x4
-Failure to Stop at a Red Light x3
In addition to various other traffic violations
Lark was then arraigned by JP 3 on the above charges. He was issued a $4,830 cash bail in reference to the pursuit, in addition to his capias for $50,000 cash bail. Lark was then committed to Sussex Correctional Institute in Georgetown, DE.
The Bethany Beach Police Department would like to thank the following assisting agencies: South Bethany Police, Fenwick Island Police, Ocean View Police, Delaware Natural Resources Police, and Delaware State Police.
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UPDATE 3 p.m. –12/3/25:聽
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Bethany Beach Police responded to a wellbeing check this morning shortly before 9:00 in the area of Kent Avenue and Collins Street after reports of a construction flagger slumped over, but the individual fled in a vehicle, prompting a pursuit that was later discontinued due to safety concerns. A construction crew member told police that the individual was involved in a domestic related incident on scene with another crew member. Police say the suspect crashed through private property, fled on foot, and was ultimately located hiding under a home in Bethany West and taken into custody just after 11 a.m., with assistance from multiple agencies, residents, and Delaware State Police Aviation. Lord Baltimore Elementary School was placed on a precautionary lockdown during the search, and the investigation remains active. Bethany Beach Chief of Police Patrick Foley tells the Talk of Delmarva that there is no threat to the public whatsoever. More details will be released as the investigation continues and charges are filed.聽
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Additional Information from Bethany Beach Police:聽
The Bethany Beach Police Department responded to the area of Kent Ave. and Collins St. at approximately 8:54 A.M., for a check the wellbeing of an individual. Callers reported a construction crew flagger in the intersection appeared to be slumped over while performing his duties.
Once BBPD arrived on scene, the subject entered a vehicle in the immediate vicinity and fled from officers. At the same time, another construction crew member advised that the individual was involved in a domestic related incident on scene with another crew member.
Officers attempted to apprehend the vehicle, which began a pursuit. The vehicle traveled towards Fenwick Island and turned its direction north, towards Bethany Beach. Once the pursuit approached unsafe speeds and traveled towards an area with known pedestrians, BBPD discontinued the chase.
After the Officers disengaged, the suspect entered the South Coastal Library parking lot, traveled through private property, while striking a house, and fled on foot in a nearby dead-end cul-de-sac.
BBPD reengaged with the suspect on foot in the Bethany West development. With an established perimeter from numerous surrounding agencies, as well as the assistance of Delaware State Police Aviation, a strategic search was performed, narrowing the possible location of the suspect at large.
With the assistance of witnessing neighbors communicating suspicious activity to BBPD, officers were able to apprehend the suspect who was hiding beneath a residence on Pebble Ct. The suspect was taken into custody at 11:04 A.M.
During the length of the established perimeter, Lord Baltimore Elementary School (Ocean View, DE) was placed into a precautionary lockdown, to ensure the safety of students and faculty.
Seeing this remains an active police investigation, further information will be released by Bethany Beach PD at a later time.
Bethany Beach PD would like to thank surrounding law enforcement agencies, as well as the attentiveness and communication of residents, bringing this incident to a safe ending.
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Original Post:聽
At about 9:00 this morning, the Bethany Beach Police Department initiated a vehicle pursuit. The Ocean View Police Department was dispatched to assist. While responding, the two Ocean View PD vehicles collided at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Central Avenue. Both officers were taken to the hospital, were evaluated, and released. The Talk of Delmarva will have more information as details become available.聽
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