Second effort made to steal 'thin blue line' flags honoring trooper, police say

Esteban Parra | The News Journal

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A 23-year-old Lewes woman, who was arrested on charges she tried to steal several "thin blue line" flags hanging along Del. 1 near Lewes, told police she didn't think it was right the banners were there, according to court documents.

When a Delaware State Police Trooper asked Ceryse Devaney why she didn't think it was right, documents obtained by The News Journal claim the woman responded: "because they were not red, white and blue."

The thin blue line flags, a symbol to support law enforcement, were placed near the Nassau Bridge to honor the July 9 passing of Delaware State Police Master Cpl. William F. Matt.

Originally there was one flag in his honor, but police said 21-year-old Catherine Iocco of Wilmington removed it on July 13 and then burned the flag. Iocco was charged with theft, criminal mischief and other related traffic offenses.

She was released after posting $275 bail and is scheduled to have a court hearing on Aug. 13.

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The single flag stolen and damaged was then replaced by the six banners that were zip-tied to posts on the center guardrail of the Nassau Bridge.

In the early hours of Friday, a state police trooper noticed a vehicle stopped in the center median of Del. 1. When the trooper approached the vehicle, he noticed Devaney standing next to six thin blue line flags that were on the ground, according to court documents.

As the trooper spoke to Devaney, he said he noticed a cut on her left hand, "possibly sustained while trying to cut down the flags," the documents said. The trooper also noticed blood on the flags.

Because the trooper did not know who the flags belong to, Devaney was released, according to the documents. She was arrested on Tuesday after the trooper learned who the flags belonged to.

Devaney was charged with attempt to commit theft and criminal mischief and was released after posting $750 unsecured bail. Her arraignment is scheduled for next month.

Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3.