‘One-man crime wave’ charged with another robbery
CLIFTON HEIGHTS » A Philadelphia man described as a “one-man crime wave” by Upper Darby’s top cop for two armed robberies in the township has been charged with a third robbery in Clifton Heights.
Charles Edwards, 55, of the 5600 block of Florence Avenue, was initially charged Thursday with a May 9 robbery at Rainbow Flowers on Garrett Road and at the Health Plus Pharmacy May 31, shortly before his arrest.
Clifton Heights police announced Friday that he has also been charged in the Memorial Day robbery of the El Mexicana Deli/Grocery on the first block of East Baltimore Avenue.
Edwards was captured after leaving the pharmacy at 8441 West Chester Pike Thursday afternoon. Police said he entered the pharmacy around 12:30 p.m., produced a knife and announced a holdup. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said a witness saw the suspect drive away in a sport utility vehicle and provided a description to responding Officer Amanda Shephard, who put out a broadcast.
Upper Darby Detective Sgt. Philip Lydon and Detective Francis George saw the SUV as they were pulling out of police headquarters onto West Chester Pike and gave chase. When the suspect was stopped by traffic in the 6800 block of Market Street, he fled on foot. Chitwood said Edwards made it about a half block before he was tackled by George and Lydon and taken into custody. The knife and money from the pharmacy were reportedly recovered.
Clifton Heights police were meanwhile investigating a robbery three days earlier at the La Mexicana Deli/Grocery for a suspect described as a black male in his 50s with a greying goatee and moustache.
The suspect entered the deli at about 11:30 a.m. and announced, “This is a robbery,” according to a prior release from Clifton Heights Police Sgt. Stephen Brown.
The robber motioned that he had a weapon in his waistband, according to the release. The clerk opened the register and the suspect emptied it of cash before fleeing east on Baltimore Avenue. The victim later identified Edwards as the robber in that case, according to an updated release Friday.
Chitwood said Edwards is also under investigation for similar incidents in Springfield and Lansdowne.