Suspect captured after bus stop robberies in West Philadelphia
WEST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A robbery suspect is in custody after a police chase in West Philadelphia that ended with three officers carrying the suspect to a waiting police van.
Chopper 6 HD was over 40th and Aspen streets as the arrest happened just after 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Police believe the suspect is responsible for several armed robberies that took place early Wednesday morning.
And they are calling it a successful arrest, thanks to the joint effort of officers in the 19th, 18th and 16th districts.
"It was a little wild this morning," Philadelphia Police Capt. Joseph Bologna told Action News. "We were getting reports of robberies, one after another."
Police were already on the lookout for an armed robber who struck in the 6400 block of Lancaster Avenue, the 5200 block of Lebanon Avenue, and the 1900 block of North 63rd Street.
All the holdups took place at bus stops between 6:15 and 6:45 a.m.
Suddenly a sergeant on the case noticed something at 52nd and Market streets.
"He came upon the individual attempting to rob another individual," said Bologna. "From there the bad guy jumped into his car."
There was a short pursuit that ended with a flat tire at a dead-end street at 41st and Warren streets.
Police say from there the suspect ran until his capture a few blocks away. Chopper 6 HD was overhead for the last moments of that chase.
Along the way, investigators say, he dropped a gun that was later recovered.
Police are now looking to see if there are more victims, including the person who was the target of that attempted robbery at 52nd and Market streets.
The Philadelphia Police Southwest Detectives unit is handling this case.
The investigation is considered ongoing, and no charges have yet been filed.
