A Wilmington man was arrested yesterday morning following a robbery at a Valero gas station in Wilmington.

Officials said that on August 15, 2024, at approximately 11:18 a.m., Delaware State Police responded to a robbery at the Valero gas station on McKennan’s Church Road. The suspect, identified as 53-year-old Luis Santiago, approached a woman at the gas pump, forcibly took her cell phone and attempted to flee the scene. Good Samaritans intervened and detained Santiago as he attempted to flee. In the struggle, Santiago threw the stolen phone, damaging it, police said. Both Santiago and the victim sustained minor injuries in the incident.

After his arrest, Santiago was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the altercation. En route, he became rowdy and kicked an EMT in the ambulance. His combative behavior continued at the hospital, where he resisted staff efforts to assist him, resulting in a minor injury to a hospital employee.

After being released from the hospital, Santiago was transported to Delaware State Police Troop 2 where he was charged with second-degree robbery (a felony), battery on an emergency medical technician, third-degree assault, and criminal damage to property. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace 11 and subsequently remanded to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $7,100 bail.