Testimony continues in robbery spree trial
A detective spelled out for jurors Wednesday how police came up with a suspect in an armed robbery spree.
NORRISTOWN >> By sharing information regarding separate armed robbery investigations in their boroughs, detectives from Pottstown and Norristown were able to develop a lone suspect, testimony revealed.
“It appeared to us that we may be dealing with the same actor. The descriptions of the actor and the vehicle involved were very similar,” Norristown Detective Charles Leeds testified Wednesday as the trial of accused serial armed robber Kenneth Jones Jr. entered its second day in Montgomery County Court.
When Pottstown Police Officer Michael Glauner provided video surveillance footage, recorded around the time of a 9:50 a.m., Dec. 8, 2015, armed robbery of a man in the 900 block of East High Street in Pottstown, to Norristown detectives investigating a 3:50 a.m., Dec. 8 armed robbery of a man at Lafayette and Stanbridge streets, investigators were able to identify a gray Nissan Altima vehicle as a potential link to each of the crimes.
Specifically, officials determined the vehicle observed in the area of the Pottstown robbery was observed at a Wal-Mart and Wawa in Upper Merion and at a Wawa in Bridgeport between 4 a.m. and 4:37 a.m., where Jones attempted to use a debit card detectives allege he stole from the Norristown victim.
With the help of county detectives who analyzed the video surveillance footage, investigators were able to identify the Altima’s registration plate and subsequently link the Altima to Jones, according to testimony.
Jones, 32, of Philadelphia, faces numerous robbery-related charges in connection with the alleged Dec. 8 crime spree, a total of four robberies in Pottstown, Norristown and Abington. The trial before Judge Steven T. O’Neill is expected to last about three days.
On Wednesday, jurors viewed video surveillance footage of Jones at the Wal-Mart and at the two Wawa stores, allegedly trying to use a victim’s debit card to purchase items. Defense lawyer Aaron Kostyk has conceded that Jones used the victim’s stolen debit card but suggested Jones was not the person who actually robbed the victim of the card.
Assistant District Attorney Laura Bradbury alleged Jones terrorized five people during the armed robberies, which she said were “motivated by greed and looking to get a quick buck.”
But Kostyk implied the victims’ identifications of Jones as their assailant are unreliable and that the case “is about a flawed investigation.” Kostyk also argued authorities have no fingerprints or DNA evidence to link Jones to the four armed robberies.
Jones’s alleged crime spree began about 3:50 a.m. Dec. 8 when he approached a man walking in the area of Lafayette and Stanbridge streets in Norristown, produced a black handgun and robbed the victim of his wallet, according to a criminal complaint filed by Leeds. Jones later made successful and unsuccessful attempts to use the victim’s debit card at Wal-Mart and Wawa stores, according to testimony.
At 9:50 a.m. Dec. 8, Jones was in Pottstown and allegedly approached a man waiting for a bus in the 900 block of East High Street, showed the victim the butt of a handgun and demanded the victim’s cellphone and debit card, according to court papers. Jones allegedly told the man, “Don’t make me pull this out, I have children to feed,” as he showed the victim a gun in his waistband. When the victim told Jones he had only four dollars for the bus, Jones allegedly stated, “Keep it, it’s not worth it,” before fleeing, court papers indicate.
Jones allegedly returned to Norristown and at 10:45 a.m. Dec. 8 he approached a woman on a parking lot in the 1200 block of West Main Street, lifted up his sweatshirt to display a revolver tucked in his waistband and demanded the woman’s valuables, according to court papers. When the woman screamed, Jones fled from the area on foot, police alleged.
Later on Dec. 8, about 2:10 p.m., Jones allegedly forced his way into a home in the 2300 block of Susquehanna Road in Abington, produced a black revolver and stated to two male victims “Give me the money or I will shoot you,” according to a criminal complaint filed by Abington police Officer Robert Hill Jr. Jones allegedly got away with some cash and a debit card before fleeing from the residence in a silver sedan. Jones allegedly made an unsuccessful attempt to use the stolen debit card in Philadelphia, police alleged.
Some of the victims of the robberies and attempted robberies identified Jones as the culprit when they viewed police photo arrays and video surveillance footage and some identified him in court as the assailant.
“It appeared to us that we may be dealing with the same actor. The descriptions of the actor and the vehicle involved were very similar.” — Norristown Detective Charles Leeds