Harbeson man faces charges after police chase

A Harbeson man faces charges after leading police on a chase Oct. 18 before his car was disabled on Gravel Hill Road near Millsboro.

Police responded at 2 p.m. to a business complex in the 22000 block of Dozer Lane for a report of a man under the influence of a substance or who was experiencing a medical issue, and they found a man in the driver’s seat of a Honda CR-V. When police approached to check on the man’s well-being, police said, the man drove off through a grass field and then fled southbound on Indian Mission Road.

Troopers pursued the driver as he drove erratically and committed multiple traffic offenses on several area roads. As the car drove southbound on Gravel Hill Road, police said, troopers successfully deployed stop sticks and deflated one of the Honda’s tires. The car eventually stopped on Gravel Hill Road, near Doc Frame Road.

The man exited the Honda holding what appeared to be a tan handgun, police said, but he immediately dropped it at troopers’ command. Police said it turned out it was a non-lethal pepperball gun.

Police arrested Ryan Doneker, 36, and during a search found 11 grams of cocaine, an icepick, and about $4,700 of suspected drug proceeds. Troopers also observed signs of impairment during their interaction. Doneker was taken to Troop 4 where he was charged with possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, possession with intent to deliver controlled substance, disregarding a police officer signal, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, resisting arrest, malicious mischief by a motor vehicle, driving under the influence of drug and numerous traffic offenses. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3, and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $24,401 secured bond.