Suspected killer of Delaware trooper had prior gun, drug arrest in Florida

Nearly four years before allegedly killing a Delaware state trooper, then firing at officers for hours before being shot to death himself, Burgon Sealy Jr. was arrested on gun and drug charges in Florida.

And just as when he reportedly shot Cpl. Stephen Ballard to death Wednesday, Sealy kept the gun hidden inside his waistband during his previous brush with the law, court records said.

Sealy, then 23, was arrested in June 2013 in Volusia County, Fla., on misdemeanor weapons and marijuana charges.

The arrest affidavit listed his address as the same home where he was ultimately killed after — 318 St. Michael Drive in Middletown.

Police found Sealy in possession of a concealed .38-caliber handgun while he did not possess a permit to conceal the weapon. He also had ammunition, the affidavit said.

The officer wrote that he was on routine patrol when he saw Sealy on a street corner smoking something and smelled marijuana.

After confronting Sealy and asking to hand over the “joint” in his hand, the officer wrote that Sealy said, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry” and gave it to him. The officer arrested Sealy and during a search found three more joints in his pocket. The marijuana weighed about 2 grams, the warrant said.

In his rear waistband, officials found the silver and black handgun. Sealy told officers that “the gun is registered in Delaware,” the affidavit said.

Asked if he had a concealed carry permit in either state, Sealy said, “No. I’m sorry.”

He was charged with two misdemeanors: carrying a concealed firearm and possession of not more than 20 grams of marijuana.

He pleaded no contest to both charges that November.

A judge put Sealy on probation for a year and levied $423 in fines and court costs. His supervision was transferred to Delaware, and he was ordered to take a gun safety course.

Florida released Sealy from probation in July 2014.