Philadelphia man gets probation for fleeing from police

MEDIA COURTHOUSE » The driver of a vehicle who sped off from a police stop with a suspected bank robber in his passenger seat pleaded guilty before Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge John Capuzzi Monday to one count of fleeing and eluding police, a misdemeanor of the second degree.

Dante Brown, 37, of the 200 block of South Alden Street, Philadelphia, was sentenced to one year of probation effective Feb. 8, 2017, under the plea agreement worked out by Assistant District Attorney Michael Hill and defense attorney Nicholena IacuzioRushton.

Brown was arrested Feb. 8 with Brahim Tyree Wearing, 36, of the 2300 block of North 18th Street, who is suspected of robbing the Wells Fargo Bank at 6 N. MacDade Blvd. in Glenolden Feb. 2 and the TD Bank at 2200 Garrett Road in Upper Darby Feb. 7. He is scheduled for trial Aug. 22 before Judge Gregory Mallon.

The arrests were the result of surveillance being conducted at the Wells Fargo Bank at 110 Chester Pike in Sharon Hill by Sharon Hill Patrolman Sean Johnson.

The officer witnessed a tan minivan enter the parking lot next to the bank at about 3:30 p.m. and circle around before crossing over Chester Pike and heading south on Sharon Avenue.

The minivan was similar to one used as a getaway vehicle in the Glenolden robbery and Johnson could see that the passenger matched the description of the actor in both heists, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Johnson radioed for backup, but the vehicle left the parking lot before other officers arrived, so he relayed a description of the minivan over police radio. Detective Vincent Port was leaving Sharon Hill police headquarters at that time and spotted the minivan on Sharon Avenue.

Port activated his lights and siren, but the driver did not pull over. Another marked vehicle attempted to force the minivan to stop at Spring Street, but the driver maneuvered around the car onto the sidewalk and continued down Spring Street. The driver turned right on Clifton Avenue toward Chester Pike after blowing through a stop sign, but was forced to halt due to traffic.

During a search of the vehicle, police recovered separate cash bundles of $450 and $265 and a black hooded sweatshirt similar to clothing worn by the actor in the TD Bank robbery, according to the affidavit.

Wearing, who is charged with multiple offenses including robbery and conspiracy, remains incarcerated at the county prison in Concord.