Two youth arrested for alleged armed robbery
Two juvenile males have been arrested for the alleged auto theft and armed robbery of a Penn graduate student. The incident occurred on Friday, Oct. 22 at 42nd Street, between Spruce and Locust streets.
One of the juveniles, a 17-year-old, was arrested on Oct. 30 in a projects high rise at 400 N. Busti St. After being informed of his Miranda rights, the juvenile gave a statement admitting to the robbery.
The second juvenile, a 15-year-old, was arrested yesterday on the 200 block of N. 52nd Street.
The two face charges of robbery, carjacking, theft, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of auto, weapon possession, simple assault and conspiracy.
It took longer to arrest the second juvenile in part because he could initially only be identified by his nickname, "Pookie." He was eventually photo-identified, however, by Paul Howard, the criminology graduate student who had been robbed.
"Pookie" has also been charged with an additional robbery that occurred on Oct. 30 at 4400 Walnut St. He is currently being held in the House of Corrections, unable to make bail.
The other juvenile is currently being held at the police station at 55th and Pine streets, awaiting arraignment.
The stolen car was recovered on Oct. 25 on Broad and Thompson streets and then brought back for examination by Penn Police detectives. In addition to finding fingerprints, the detectives found CDs in the car that were labeled with the alleged robbers' names. From there, the detectives were able to begin to track the two suspects.
The two juveniles are also under investigation for robberies occurring this month. The University of Pennsylvania Police Department is currently working with the Southwest Detectives Special Investigations Unit of the Philadelphia Police Department on these possible leads.
-- Jason Schwartz
Female student robbed returning from Wawa
At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, a 20-year-old female student was approached and robbed at 4000 Pine St. by a female unaffiliated with the University.
The student was returning from buying groceries at Wawa when she noticed two males and a female walking behind her.
The student was then approached by the female, who allegedly demanded the soda in the student's shopping bag. According to police reports, when the student refused, the female then threatened to beat her up. The alleged assailant then proceeded to shove the student against the side of a car and take the soda.
The alleged assailant then reportedly demanded the student's wallet, which was also in the shopping bag. The student clung to the bag and wallet, though, and started screaming. As a result, the three people then fled.
The alleged robber was described as a black woman in her early 20s, approximately 5-foot-6, of stocky build and large breasted, having big teeth with large gaps and wearing a long sleeve shirt with thick stripes.
The two males did not actively participate in the robbery.
The student was not injured.
-- J.S.
