3 face charges in BB-gun vandalism spree
GLENOLDEN » A trio of bicyclists from Philadelphia are behind bars in Delaware County, charged with shooting out car windows with BB guns Sunday night in Glenolden, Ridley Township and Darby Township, according to court documents and Glenolden Police Chief Jay Kelly.
While five cars have been identified, one each in Glenolden and Darby Township and three in Ridley Township, Kelly said investigators suspect others may have been vandalized as well.
Frank Griffin, 20, of the 2200 block of Bonffan Street; Jordan C. Gatewood, 20, of the 1500 block of Roosevelt Drive; and Marckce Dion Allen, 19, of the 7300 block of Theodore Street, were each preliminarily arraigned Monday morning on the following misdemeanor offense: Loitering and prowling at night, criminal mischief, prohibited offensive weapon; possessing instruments of crime, and criminal conspiracy.
All three defendants were remanded to the county prison in lieu of posting bail, which was set at 10 percent of $20,000 each, according to online court records. Preliminary hearings are listed for Oct. 4 before Magisterial District Judge Peter P. Tozer.
It was shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday when Glenolden police were dispatched to the area of West Ashland and Academy avenues for a report of three black males on bicycles who were shooting BB guns at car windows. On his arrival, Glenolden Officer Robert Brake, saw two black males walking east on West Ashland, by Glen Circle.
“Both males reported to me that they saw a group of black males running on Academy Avenue towards Gardner Avenue. While speaking with these two black males, the witness/ complainant informed me that the black males I was speaking to were involved in the BB gun shooting,” reads the probable cause affidavit, authored by Brake.
The two males were identified as Allen and Griffin, the affidavit states. When Brake noticed a bulge in Allen’s right pants pocket, the officer conducted a pat down and found a black BB handgun, loaded with BBs, the affidavit states.
A pat-down on Griffin revealed a brown and silver BB handgun in his waistband, according to the affidavit. There was no BB magazine in the handgun, but an empty magazine was found on the roadway near one of the victim’s vehicles.
According to the affidavit, Glenolden police Cpl. Stephen Powers located Gatewood walking along West Ashland and Andrews.
“Yeah, it was me,” Gatewood reportedly told police as they approached him and asked if he was with the other two men who had already been stopped.
According to the affidavit, Gatewood was attempting to retrieve his bicycle. The witness/complainant subsequently identified Gatewood as the third accomplice.
When Powers patted down Gatewood, a black BB handgun was found in the waistband of his pants, the affidavit states.
All three suspects had backpacks, from which police confiscated various tools, several bottles and containers filled with BBs, numerous CO2 air canisters and a folding knife.
At the time of the incident in Glenolden, Ridley Township had received three complaints and Darby Township had received one complaint, all involving vehicle windows shot out by BB, the affidavit states.
Ridley Township Police Capt. Scott Willoughby commended the swift arrests.
Willoughby encouraged parents to monitor their children’s social media as a way to avoid certain nuisance crimes, which are frequently committed by individuals who do not live in the township.
‘Their kids are inviting kids from out of town to come here and many times, these out-of-town kids only want to make trouble,” he said.
Darby Township Police Chief Regina Price was not immediately available Monday afternoon for comment.