She was off duty and out for a morning jog when she was attacked on the Ben Franklin Bridge.
All day long, walkers and joggers traverse the pedestrian pathway over the Ben Franklin Bridge. Philadelphia Police detective Betty Weighknecht set out for her jog yesterday morning, just two blocks from police headquarters, when the mugger attacked.
Lt. Frank Vanore tells Action News, "It's my understanding that the detective fought the individual for quite some time. The individual produced a handgun - smacked the detective several time in the head with the handgun."
The armed man ripped off the detective's gold necklace and threw her cell phone into the river.
Then came a bone-chilling moment: "She had stopped fighting and he pointed the weapon at her and threatened to kill her," tells Vanore.
Instead, the suspect got back on his bicycle and rode toward Camden. He is described as a Hispanic man about 5'6" tall, weighing around 150 pounds. He was wearing a dark blue hoodie and dark blue baggy jeans. The bicycle was a light blue racing bike with very thin tires.
Police are checking surveillance video from cameras positioned along the bridge.
The attack has rattled the nerves of those who frequent the bridge path. Most would not go alone - especially not now.
Philadelphia Police have interviewed possible suspects. They have also staked out a home over in Camden, but there are still no arrests.
The victim walked to police headquarters after the attack. She was then taken to the hospital to be checked out for her injuries. She is expected to be OK.
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