Police officers nabbed the suspected burglar after a holdup and a chase Monday morning, and it's what they found on his GPS that could make the case bigger than they first expected.
24-year-old Joseph Powell was determined not to get caught and now we know why. He is a wanted man, a career criminal, and may be responsible for a string of drug store robberies.
Joseph Powell of South Philadelphia led police on a wild chase Monday morning. It started around 3:00 a.m. when he allegedly set off the burglar alarm while trying to break into Marsala Pizza, located at 200 N. Fairview Road in Woodlyn.
When officers arrived, they noticed a red pickup truck fleeing the scene and a police pursuit ensued. While pursuing the vehicle police learned that the 1995 Dodge Ram was stolen out of Philadelphia on April 24, 2010 and had stolen tags on it.
Officers from Ridley Township, Eddystone Police, Prospect Park and Ridley Park chased the suspect into Prospect Park and cornered him at Caroline Court Apartments, located at 701 Lincoln Avenue. At that point the suspect rammed the Ridley Park police car several times while backing up in his vehicle. The officer exited the car and the suspect tried to run him over resulting in the officer discharging his weapon - striking the vehicle's tires.
He took off down 420 and was finally forced to come to a stop near I-95. Police say he fought with them and had to be tasered.
Powell was also wanted by Philadelphia police on an outstanding arrest warrant for another vehicle theft.
Police say, inside the truck theyfound Powell's GPS with names and addresses for approximately ten Pharmacies throughout the Philadelphia area. Police also found the first name and address on the GPS was the Woodlyn Pharmacy located directly across the street from Marsalla Pizza. Investigators believe Powell may have been planning to burglarize the pharmacy, but when he arrived he found the store had a roll down metal shutter on all the doors and windows. Then went across the street and burglarized Marsalla Pizza.
They believe the GPS is a road map to a crime spree that came to a wild end early this morning. Philadelphia Police and the FBI are now using the GPS and other evidence to try to link Powell to a series of drug store burglaries.
Powell is charged with Burglary, Possessing instruments of crime, aggravated assault, receiving stolen property, fleeing and alluding police, and numerous other charges. He has a lengthy criminal record as an adult and juvenile and he's now being held on $100,000 bail.
