Arrest of Church's Chicken shooting suspect caught on camera
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- New video is giving us an inside look at the arrest of the Church's Chicken shooting suspect.
Cameras were rolling when police tracked down their suspect on a SEPTA bus, just blocks from the scene of the crime.
It is well known that SEPTA's surveillance system all across town is state of the art. The transit agency has cameras mounted on buses, trains, subway platforms and trolleys. But now a new tool to help the agency's police force is up and running - every transit cop now wears a body camera while on duty.
Attempted murder suspect Ronald Graham was arrested last Thursday morning while sleeping on a Route 23 SEPTA bus along Germantown Avenue. He was taken into custody several days after he allegedly shot and seriously wounded an employee at Church's Chicken on North Broad Street.
Surveillance video of him at the restaurant had circulated all around town. SEPTA employees, including cops, recognized him from his frequent angry complaints about service.
SEPTA police got a tip call last Thursday that he was aboard the Route 23 bus. And as he slept, Officer Matt Arlen quietly evacuated the bystanders and closed in on Ronald Graham. He proved to be unarmed, and a smooth arrest took place.
All of SEPTA's nearly 300 uniformed officers are now outfitted with body cameras. Footage from Officer Arlen's body cam captured Graham's arrest.
It's new technology that SEPTA is now proudly showing off.
SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel says, "This will put police in a great light and it will shine the light on police that aren't acting properly. It's going to be a great tool for policing."
Ronald Graham remains in custody, charged with attempted murder.
