Fleeing bank rob suspects crash into cop car on I-95
BROOKHAVEN » Two suspects in a robbery that occurred Friday afternoon at a branch of Citizens Bank in the borough were awaiting preliminary arraignment Friday night – thanks to a joint effort by multiple police agencies that led to their swift arrest, according to Brookhaven Acting Police Chief Gregory Martin.
The suspects, a male and a female whose identities were not released, are also being investigated for possible involvement in a robbery that occurred Monday at a Wells Fargo Bank in Ridley Park, Ridley Park Police Chief Robert Frazier said.
The alleged offenders were taken into custody at the scene of a crash in the area of southbound Interstate 95 and the Highland Avenue offramp in Chester, where their vehicle “had impact” with a Chester police cruiser shortly after noon Friday, Chester Police Chief James Nolan IV said. Nolan was not aware of any injuries as a result of the crash.
It was at noon on Friday when Brookhaven police responded to a report of a robbery that just occurred at the Citizens Bank at 4001 Edgmont Ave., according to a brief release issued by Martin Friday night. Officers were en route to the bank when they learned an offduty officer saw an individual exit the bank and enter a vehicle, which the officer then followed.
“The off-duty officer provided the direction of travel to police,” the release states. “When police initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle, it fled and later crashed on I-95 south at Highland Avenue” where the two suspects were taken into custody.
“They were both charged for their involvement in the bank robbery,” the release states.
Charging documents were not immediately available Friday night.
According to Nolan, a pursuit initiated by Brookhaven police was broadcast over the radio, and city officers joined in the chase when the suspected getaway vehicle, a silver Saturn, entered I-95 at the Edgmont Avenue onramp.
“Our guys chased them down 95. (The suspects) were caught at Highland Avenue,” Nolan said. “During the chase, there was contact between the cars.”
Nolan estimated the suspects were in custody within about 15 minutes of the reported robbery.
In addition to Chester, Upland and Parkside police, the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI assisted Brookhaven, Martin stated.
Meanwhile, authorities in Ridley Park on Friday released surveillance images of two suspects in the robbery that occurred shortly before 12:55 p.m. Monday at the Wells Fargo Bank at 9 E. Hinckley Ave. According Ridley Park Police Cpl. John T. Morris, a black male jumped over the counter and emptied a teller’s drawers and then fled, along with an accomplice, described as possibly a white male or a light-skinned black male. Both were last seen on Swarthmore Avenue, heading toward Chester Pike. It is believed the suspects walked to the parking lot of Center Park Apartments where they had a getaway vehicle parked. The apartment complex has one driveway on East Hinckley Avenue and another driveway on North Swarthmore Avenue.
While the faces of both suspects were covered by coat hoods, Ridley Park authorities are hoping their body language, physiques, or clothing might be recognizable. If anyone has any information, contact Ridley Park police at 610-362-7401 or 911.
Morris spent much of the day Friday in Brookhaven, assisting in the investigation and assessing information.
Friday night, Frazier said, “We’re still looking at a possible link.”