Two armed robberies hit the western edge of campus this week -- one of which led to the discovery and arrests of individuals in what police are calling a "drug house."
At about 10:45 p.m. Thursday night, a resident of 4116 Spruce St. called Penn Police to report a robbery.
Joshua Trisdorfer, who is not affiliated with Penn, said that a gun-toting robber had entered his apartment, forced the tenant and two acquaintances to the floor and stolen $1,000 in cash, which had been left on a table.
When police were let inside the apartment, they immediately saw drugs and related paraphernalia in plain view. They proceeded to search the remainder of the apartment for contraband, eventually netting a large quantity of marijuana and Adderall -- a prescription stimulant that is frequently abused.
In addition, officers found packaging materials and other evidence that the drugs were intended for redistribution.
As a result of their findings, police arrested Trisdorfer, 21, on charges of drug possession and possession with intent to deliver.
Police questioned and ultimately released the other two men -- a Penn student and a Temple student -- who were also present at the residence with Trisdorfer. Their names are not being released because they have not been charged with any crime.
Detectives have not made any arrests in connection with the initial armed robbery that sent the evening's events into motion.
In a separate incident, a female Penn employee was the target of an attempted armed robbery Thursday morning at about 7 a.m. near the intersection of 41st and Locust streets.
The employee left a trolley at the intersection of 41st Street and Baltimore Avenue. She proceeded northbound on 41st Street until she reached Spruce Street, where she noticed a man who she believed to be following her.
As the victim neared Locust Street, the man approached and greeted her, and asked for her pocketbook.
When she refused, he pulled out a large, silver automatic pistol, the victim said.
It is unclear whether the victim again refused his demand or simply began to run, but the would-be robber did not succeed in stealing anything.
The man ran west from the scene, and the victim fled north on 41st Street. She went immediately to the University Police station at 4040 Chestnut St. to report the crime.
The victim described the would-be robber as a black man in his mid-to-late 20s, 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet in height with an average build and dark complexion. He had black hair with a "fade" hairstyle, a full beard and a thin moustache. He wore a long-sleeve, black "Dickies" shirt and black pants.
