NEWARK, DE — Delaware State Police have apprehended David Cardarelli, 45, of Tarpon Springs, Florida, and Michael Cona, 44, of Palm Harbor, Florida, on charges related to weapons and drugs after a traffic stop in Newark on Friday morning.
On December 22, 2023, at approximately 11:45 a.m., members of the New Castle County Governor’s Task Force were conducting patrols near the Biden Welcome Center located at 530 John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway in Newark when they noticed the driver of a parked gold Buick Lucerne, registered in Florida, engaging in suspicious activity. Authorities observed the driver, later identified as David Cardarelli, snorting an unknown substance while sitting in the vehicle. Detectives from the task force initiated a traffic stop in order to check on the occupants of the vehicle. They made contact with Cardarelli, who was the driver, and Michael Cona, who was seated in the front passenger seat.
Upon making contact with the suspects, detectives noticed a loaded handgun magazine in plain view and subsequently took both Cardarelli and Cona into custody without incident. Further examination of the vehicle led to the discovery of a loaded handgun, additional loaded handgun magazines, ammunition, and drug-related items. These items included an aluminum spoon containing a hard waxy purple substance, which tested positive for heroin, as well as an uncapped needle syringe containing a purple liquid suspected to be heroin. Additionally, detectives observed the handle of a handgun in plain view between the driver’s seat and the center console.
Following the arrest, a thorough search of the Buick was conducted, uncovering the aforementioned items. Cardarelli and Cona were then transported to Troop 2 where they were charged with multiple offenses.
David Cardarelli faces the following charges: Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited who also Possesses a Controlled Substance (Felony), Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (Felony), and Possession of a Controlled/Counterfeit Substance. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and is currently held at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on an $8,000 secured bond.
Michael Cona, identified as a convicted felon through a computer inquiry, faces the following charges: Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited who also Possesses a Controlled Substance (Felony), Possession of a Firearm if Previously Convicted of a Violent Felony (Felony), Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (Felony), and Possession of a Controlled/Counterfeit Substance. He was also arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and is currently held at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on an $11,000 secured bond.
It is important to note that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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