Noose Incident Leads To Hate Crime Charges For Delaware Firefighters; La Plata VFD Member Suspended

MILLVILLE, Del. — Two former Millville volunteer firefighters—one of whom recently joined the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department in Maryland—have been arrested following a Delaware State Police investigation into a previously unreported hate crime involving a noose and repeated racist remarks.

According to state police, 27-year-old Jay Droney of Millville and 23-year-old Jordan Hastings of Delmar turned themselves in on April 15, 2025, after warrants were issued for their arrest. Both men face felony charges of a hate crime and second-degree conspiracy, along with a misdemeanor harassment charge. They were arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and released on their own recognizance.

Detectives launched the investigation on April 9 after being contacted by administrators at the Millville Volunteer Fire Company, located at 35554 Atlantic Ave. in Millville. Officials reported an incident that had taken place more than a year earlier, in February 2024, involving an employee who had allegedly been harassed inside the station by Droney and Hastings.

Investigators determined that the two suspects, both volunteer firefighters at the time, chased the employee around the station with a rope fashioned into the shape of a noose. Droney also reportedly made a racist comment during the encounter and continued making additional racist remarks on separate occasions.

Droney and Hastings are no longer members of the Millville Volunteer Fire Company.

Following his arrest, Droney’s involvement with another fire department also came under scrutiny. The La Plata Volunteer Fire Department in Maryland confirmed Droney joined its ranks on April 7, 2025—just days before the charges were filed. The department said a standard background check during his onboarding revealed no indication of the pending investigation in Delaware.

Upon learning of the arrest, La Plata VFD suspended Droney from all activities pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

“The La Plata Volunteer Fire Department takes all allegations of this nature with the utmost seriousness,” said department president Travis Yates in a statement. “We do not condone any form of hate, harassment, or behavior that is contrary to the values of public service.”

Authorities have directed further inquiries about the criminal case to the Delaware State Police.