A SCREAM FOR HELP
LOWER CHI OFFICER RESPONDS TO WOMAN’S CRY IN SEX ASSAULT
Lower Chichester Patrolman Tim McBride is being credited with hearing a woman’s cries for help and arresting a suspect on attempted rape charges.
LOWER CHICHESTER >> A man facing charges in an Oct. 2 robbery in Delaware was arrested two days later in Linwood after a police officer responded to a woman’s screams and found him on top of her, interrupting “possibly unspeakable crimes,” the township’s top cop said.
“You aren’t going anywhere,” defendant Richard Simmons allegedly told the woman, described as being in her 50s and afraid for her life.
Chief Thomas Gaspari on Tuesday hailed the actions last week of Officer Tim McBride as “one of the best pieces of police work that I have seen as the chief of police.
“These actions led to an arrest of a career criminal that had just got off the train from Delaware, about two blocks from the crime scene,” the chief continued.
Simmons, 46, of the 700 block of Washington Street, has been incarcerated at the county prison since his Oct. 4 arrest.
Charged with felony attempted rape by forcible compulsion, as well as aggravated assault, simple assault, false imprisonment, unlawful restraint, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, reckless endangerment and harassment, Simmons’ bail was set at 10 percent of $500,000, which he failed to post, according to online court records. A preliminary hearing is listed for Oct. 16 before Magisterial District Judge David R. Griffin.
According to the probable cause affidavit, McBride was on patrol when he heard what he thought to be a female screaming from inside a business along Market Street shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 4. McBride exited his vehicle and as he entered the business, the screams drew his attention to an area behind a counter inside the business. It was then he saw a man, later identified as Simmons, lying on top of a woman who was screaming.
“I drew my weapon and ordered the defendant to get up off the victim,” states the affidavit, which was authored by McBride.
According to the affidavit, Simmons stood and turned toward the officer. When the officer ordered Simmons to get on the ground, he failed to comply.
“I ordered him several times to lay on the ground,” and he continually refused to comply, the affidavit states.
The affidavit described Simmons as continuing to advance toward McBride.
“I holstered my weapon and pulled my Taser, once again ordered the defendant to lay on the ground. He refused and continued to walk toward this officer,” the affidavit states. “I deployed my Taser, which was effective and he fell to the floor.”
At this point, backup officers arrived at the scene. Simmons continued to “actively resist” their commands to place his hands behind his back, the affidavit states. “After a few minutes of physically struggling with the defendant, they were able to place the defendant into custody.”
During an interview conducted by McBride and Sgt. Larry Moore, the victim indicated that she was working when she saw a man walk in and out of the business two or three times. The last time she heard him enter, she was in the back behind a counter getting ready to leave for the night.
When the man walked behind the counter, she tried to exit the business but, according to the affidavit, he blocked her from leaving.
The woman said the man was unfazed when she told him that the police station was nearby.
When the woman attempted to escape out the back door, the man grabbed her and threw her on the floor. When she tried to get up, he physically held her down, according to the affidavit.
The woman described herself as “extremely scared” and feared for her life. She said she was screaming as he got on top of her.
It was at this point when McBride entered the business and began to yell at the man, she said.
According to the affidavit, the victim felt if the officer did not arrive when he did, the defendant was going to kill her.
The woman suffered an abrasion to her right elbow and a swollen lip. She was treated at the scene by paramedics.
According to Moore, Simmons has a 62-page rap sheet dating back to the late ‘90s. He has been arrested in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland on offenses including robbery, drugs and weapons.
His arrest history includes a robbery offense in Delaware on Oct. 2, Moore said. No other details were immediately available on that offense.
Gaspari said McBride will be acknowledged for his actions at a public meeting.
“McBride’s actions averted serious injury if not possibly unspeakable crimes that may have taken place,” he said. “McBride’s determination to locate the victim in need was second to none, and I highly commend him for single handedly stopping the dangerous intended crime.”
Police from surrounding departments assisted in the investigation.