Alexis Marioni-Calvarese and her husband, Nick Calvarese, were in the Walgreens at Milltown Shopping Center on Thursday morning when they heard screaming coming from the parking lot.

The couple got into their car and drove to the source of the sound, which was coming from outside the nearby Valero gas station.

There, they found one man holding another down on the ground in an attempt to restrain him. Others in the parking lot were screaming that the restrained man, later identified by Delaware State Police as a 53-year-old from Wilmington, had tried to rob a woman at the gas pumps.

The other man “looked like he needed help,” Calvarese said, so he jumped out of the car to assist. His wife moved into the driver’s seat to repark their car nearby before exiting to help the woman whom the 53-year-old is accused of robbing. The woman had cuts on her hands and left arm, Marioni-Calvarese said.

State police confirmed that the woman was injured when the 53-year-old “forcefully” took her cellphone and tried to run away. When he was first pinned by a good Samaritan, police said, he threw the stolen phone away, damaging it.

Calvarese said he and another man held the 53-year-old down for what felt like 10 minutes until police arrived. The man “wouldn’t stop resisting,” Calvarese said, and it took three people to restrain him.

Calvarese said the incident “hit close to home.”

“That could have been my wife,” he said. “People need to stop grabbing their phones and videoing and do something or this will just keep happening.”

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Police arrived on the scene at 11:18 a.m. and took the 53-year-old into custody. The man was injured by the good Samaritans, according to police, and was taken to the hospital. Police said the man was “disorderly” and resisted help, kicking an EMT on the ambulance and minorly injuring a hospital staff member.

The man was charged with second-degree robbery, a felony, and three misdemeanors. He remains in Department of Correction custody.

Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on X at @h_edelman.

A 62-year-old pedestrian died after being hit by a motorist who fled the scene early Friday south of Dover, Delaware State Police said.

The victim, from the Dover area, has not been identified.

Police said the victim was near or on the northbound shoulder of South Dupont Highway, south of POW/MIA Parkway, when an unknown vehicle struck him about 1:40 a.m. The motorist then fled in an unknown direction.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

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Police are investigating the incident and are asking anyone who might have information to contact investigators by calling (302) 698-8457. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

Candidates battling to become Delaware’s next governor laid out their plans Thursday for education, infrastructure, immigration and other key issues.

The Rotary Club of Wilmington hosted a state gubernatorial debate on Thursday afternoon. The debate followed a similar Wednesday night event held by the Delaware Journalism Collaborative.

Five of the six candidates facing off next month in the Delaware primaries participated in Thursday’s debate: Democrats Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and former Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin O’Mara; and Republicans Delaware House Rep. Mike Ramone and businessman Bobby Williamson – met to discuss key issues surrounding the First State.

The third Republican candidate, Jerrold Price, did not attend.

What did the candidates talk about?

After opening remarks, each candidate faced questions on a variety of topics.

Candidates were asked what actions they would take as Governor if federal deportation of immigrants was implemented. The question referenced a recent WHYY report regarding the difficulties many immigrants in both the First State and the country face in obtaining citizenship

O’Mara said he would take steps to help Delaware become “the most welcoming state” for immigrant communities, including providing access to affordable housing and quality education.

Ramone stated he would “go to the problem itself” and find new ways of amending and modifying different pathways to citizenship to be more attainable and achievable via bipartisan support.

Candidates were asked what policies or initiatives candidates would implement to expand early childhood education across the First State.

Williamson advocated for private, charter and vocational schools as additional choices for children and parents alike.

Meyer talked about the importance “quality [and] top-notch” education, proposing working alongside businesses to provide incentives for on-set childcare and initiating early nursing programs and partnerships for low-income families.

Another question focused on candidates’ strategies for updating and restoring statewide infrastructure.

Williamson noted the importance of community input when making improvements to infrastructure and overall efficiency, such as addressing which roads and pathways need repair.

Citing his past experiences lobbying for the passage of legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, O’Mara said we need to preserve the framework of the past while also “building the infrastructure of the 21^st century,” such as utilizing clean and renewable energy resources like solar power and offshore wind.

Candidates were asked how they would best reflect the core values upheld by the Rotary Club – which include service, leadership, diversity, fellowship and integrity – in their respective administrations.

Hall-Long said she has embodied these same values throughout her years in public service, and how, as a self-described “innovator,” plans to invest in fair, equitable solutions that work for all.

Meyer said he abides by those same values in his role as New Castle County Executive, establishing this expectation for all employees and members of his team on day one to be “a government of principles” that best serves the needs of all people – an expectation, he says, he plans to take with him to the Governor’s office.

Candidates also were asked how they would contribute to the presence of arts and culture throughout the First State.

Citing the influence of his own family, Ramone explained how continued investment of the arts across Delaware will not only help preserve the value and appreciation for the field, but also unite people across different political lines together.

Hall-Long stressed how supporting the “creative economy” of Delaware, specifically uplifting the presence of women and BIPOC-owned businesses, as being “absolutely paramount.”

For their last question, candidates were asked why Delawareans should vote for them in the upcoming primary elections, set to take place on Sept. 10.

Hall-Long reiterated her intentions to better strengthen state education and healthcare systems, saying “innovation [and] new ideas is what you’ll get” under her leadership.

Meyer said, in order to better prepare for the future of Delaware, change must start in the present, including electing leaders that “have public service, not self-service.”

O’Mara noted how his campaign is about making “significant changes” that provide hope and opportunity for the next and for future generations.

Ramone stated how his experiences as both a businessman and state House Representative has shaped him into the kind of “problem-solver” who will do their best for the First State.

A third-generation Bridgeville resident, Williamson credited his knowledge of the area and his belief in granting everyone a voice will lead Delaware into a brighter, more equitable future.

Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. Reach her at omontes@delawareonline.com.

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