Winterthur, DE – A Wilmington man was taken into custody early Saturday morning after state troopers discovered him impaired behind the wheel of a car stuck off the road near the Winterthur Museum.
Troopers identified the driver as 35-year-old Benjamin Rife, who now faces a fifth offense felony DUI charge.
The arrest followed a 4:20 a.m. call from museum security reporting a suspicious person near the property on Kennett Pike.
Key Points
- Benjamin Rife, 35, arrested in Winterthur for fifth DUI offense
- Vehicle found off the roadway near Winterthur Museum early Saturday
- Rife held at Sussex Correctional Institution on $10,000 cash bond
Troopers find car stuck in grass near museum entrance
When troopers arrived at the museum grounds, they found a Nissan Altima that had driven off the roadway and become stuck in the grass. Rife, the sole occupant, appeared impaired and declined to take field sobriety tests at the scene. He was taken into custody without resistance.
Multiple prior convictions discovered
A computer check revealed Rife had four prior DUI-related convictions. Troopers transported him to Troop 1, where a search warrant for a blood draw was obtained.
Felony charge and bond
Rife was formally charged with a fifth offense DUI, a felony under Delaware law. He was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $10,000 cash bond.
Ongoing enforcement efforts
The Delaware State Police continue to emphasize DUI enforcement and public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing impaired driving incidents across the state, particularly during late-night and early-morning hours.