Suspect charged in carjacking of Chester mayor's wife
CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- One suspect has been charged after Deena Linder, the wife of Chester Mayor John Linder was carjacked on Wednesday night.
Jasper Gregory Moy, 24, of Chester, is being held on $250,000 cash bail.
Police say four people were initially taken into custody following the carjacking, but the other three have been released.
The carjacking happened around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 500 block of Reaney Street in Chester.
Mayor Linder says, "We believe it was random. She happened to be coming back at the same time they happened to be coming down the street."
Deena Linder had just parked her gold 2005 Ford Taurus outside their home on Reaney Street when she was approached by three men. They put a gun to her head and demanded her purse.
They took her purse, she got out of the vehicle, they then got in and took off toward I-95.
Deena Linder explains, "It's very upsetting. It's something no one should ever have to go through. You know, really. It's a really bad feeling."
Police put out a citywide alert and the mayor's car was found at 7th and Norris streets.
They say Moy was behind the wheel and two other young men were standing outside the car.
All three took off on foot. A few blocks away they found Moy in an abandoned car parked in an alley.
Police say Moy was busy changing his clothes when they found him.
They also took in three other young men for questioning but later released them.
The City of Chester has been in the grip of a serious crime wave. Things have gotten so bad that just 10 days ago, the mayor, the District Attorney and the US Attorney stood shoulder to shoulder announcing a crackdown. The effort has been dubbed "Operation City Surge" enlisting the help of the State Police and SEPTA Police.
The mayor says last night's incident only strengthens their resolve.
"No one is immune to anything, including the mayor," Linder said. "We're just fortunate that nothing happened - she wasn't physically harmed and she's in one piece so we're grateful for that."
