Lincoln man arrested after pursuit in stolen car

A 43-year-old Lincoln man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly stealing a car and leading police on a pursuit throughout the Cape Region April 16. 

About 5:10 p.m., troopers responded to the 20000 block of Coastal Highway in Rehoboth Beach for a theft in progress. A white male suspect, later identified as William Tatman, was observed going through vehicles on the property and was confronted by a witness. The suspect allegedly fled toward the Loft apartments across the street and found a 2006 Infiniti M35 running behind the apartment complex.

Police say the suspect entered the vehicle belonging to a 21-year-old male victim. As the first trooper arrived on scene, he observed the victim being dragged as he was attempting to open the driver side door to stop Tatman from driving away. The trooper attempted to stop Tatman, but he fled in the stolen vehicle.

A pursuit ensued onto westbound Route 9, where Tatman allegedly attempted to strike a trooper who was attempting to deploy stop sticks. The pursuit continued to the area of Route 30 and Reynolds Pond Road, where a trooper successfully deployed stop sticks, disabling the stolen car. Tatman was taken into custody without further incident.

Tatman was transported to Delaware State Police Troop 7 and charged with two counts of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, two felony counts of first-degree reckless endangering, felony disregarding a police officer signal, felony theft of a motor vehicle, and several other misdemeanor offenses and traffic violations. 

Tatman was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $146,353 cash bond.