NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
ROBBERY SUSPECT ARRESTED IN S. ALLISON HILL LAST NIGHT; BURGLARY & MUGGING & ESCAPE ALSO BEING INVESTIGATEDMayor Stephen R. Reed today said city police have arrested 19-year old Marc Thomas, of the first block of N. 12th Street, on multiple robbery and other charges stemming from an incident last night near 19th and Swatara Streets, where a S.19th Street man was robbed by Thomas at gunpoint. Thomas was captured after a lengthy foot chase by police near 17th & Derry Streets. Reed said city police are also investigating separate burglary, mugging and escape incidents that supposedly occurred overnight. In the first, a midtown woman’s apartment was reportedly burglarized sometime between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. while she slept upstairs. Taken were cash and other valuables, with the perpetrator possibly gaining entry through an unlocked door. The victim slept through the incident and was not threatened or injured. The mayor said it is important for residents to remain vigilant in spite of the many arrests that have been made in recent weeks. “Doors, windows and other points of entry should be checked and locked nightly, and for added security leave porch lights on. Valuables should also be hidden from sight, especially if they are visible to passersby.” In the another incident, a 24-year old Susquehanna Twp. man reported he was robbed shortly after 2 a.m. last night near Court and South Streets in downtown. The victim said he was waiting for a downtown employee to get off work when two black males, both approximately 5’10” to 6’ tall and in their mid-20’s walked past him. He allegedly awoke about a half-hour later to reportedly find cash and a cellphone missing, believing the pair had knocked him unconscious. The victim, who displayed no visible signs of injury, did not report the incident to police until 4 a.m. In the robbery arrest, Reed said Thomas approached the victim at gunpoint on S. 19th Street around 10:15 p.m., demanding cash and valuables. The victim complied and Thomas and an accomplice took off in a tan Toyota Camry. The victim, speaking only Spanish, saw a passing police car and advised officers of what just occurred. Police quickly stopped the car and the two suspects fled on foot. Thomas was finally captured near 17th and Derry Streets after a lengthy foot chase by responding officers, disposing of a 9 mm handgun used in the robbery in the rear yard of a house on S. 19th Street, where it was recovered by police. Thomas’s unidentified accomplice in the crime got away. Thomas is now charged with 2 cts. each of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery, and single cts. each of burglary, theft, escape, possession of drug paraphernalia, and other charges. He is now lodged at Dauphin County Prison. Police are also asking for the public’s assistance in locating 20-year old Samuel Williams, of Harrisburg, who reportedly walked away from a Dauphin County work release detail yesterday. Williams was serving sentence on theft and other charges when he failed to report back to Dauphin County Work Release Center. He is described as a black male, 6- 1” tall, weighing 170 lbs and having a slight mustache and goatee, with short-cropped hair. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call city police at (717) 255.3131. |
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