Student arrested after being victim of armed home invasion

A Temple student is facing drug charges following an armed home invasion at an off campus apartment last night, Sunday April 29.

The robbery took place on the 1500 of Page Street around 10 p.m. when two armed, masked men forced themselves into the residence and stole cell phones and cash from the five Temple students present. A third suspect stood watch outside of the apartment.

No one was hurt during the incident and after the robbery the three men fled south on 15th Street.

A TU Alert was sent out today, April 30th, around 10 a.m., informing the Temple community of the forced entry and robbery.  The alert also said one of the apartment’s occupants was arrested for possession of illegal drugs with intent to deliver. The presence of illegal drugs inside the house is believed to be related to the robbery, according to the alert.

Following the incident, authorities recognized the description of one of the suspects.

“We [made] one apprehension of a male a few blocks from the incident who was positively identified by the students,” said Charlie Leone, deputy director of Campus Safety Services.

He added that the Philadelphia Police Department Central Detectives Unit is leading the investigation with the help of The Temple Police. The investigation is still underway.

Juveniles arrested for involvement in fight

Two non-Temple juveniles were arrested early Saturday morning on the 1500 block of North Broad Street. The incident started as a mutual fight between two non-Temple juveniles and one Temple student with his friend from another local university. After seeing the fight, an Allied bike officer radioed the Temple Police dispatch, who soon arrived on the scene.

The Temple student sustained a laceration requiring stitches and his friend received an injury to nose, said Charles Leone, deputy director of Campus Safety Services.

The two were taken to Temple University Hospital where they were treated and released.

The juveniles were arrested for aggravated assault and taken to the Central Detective Division for processing. The charges were based on the hospital report.

Man threatens crowd with bomb at Liacouras Center

A man attending the Celtic Women Irish Dance Show at the Liacouras Center on Thursday, March 8, threatened the crowd claiming he had a bomb in his bag. The statement was made to patrons seated nearby at approximately 8 p.m. who, in turn, notified the Liacouras Center staff. The bag was then given to Temple Police who were working the event.

“As a precaution, the Philadelphia Police Mobile Bomb Squad were contacted and quickly determined the bag safe,” said Charles Leone, deputy director of Campus Safety Services.

The bag contained only clothing and other personal items belonging to the male.

Following these events, the man, not associated with Temple, was taken to Episcopal Hospital for psychiatric evaluation, Leone said.

The event continued despite the incident.

Man wanted for homicide arrested

Maurice Jones, 27, of the 5300 block of North 12th Street, turned himself in to officers at Police Headquarters March 5.

The fugitive wanted for the Feb. 25 murder of Charles Tresse, 35,  in the 22nd Police District turned himself in to Police Headquarters yesterday, March 5, at 11:45 p.m.

Maurice Jones, 27, of the 5300 block of North 12th Street, is responsible for Tresse’s multiple gunshot wounds to the chest which resulted in his death.

When police responded to a call regarding “person with a gun” on the 1800 block of North 20th Street, near 20th and Montgomery streets, they found Tresse, badly injured. He was taken to Temple Hospital where he died shortly thereafter.

Local robbery suspects turn themselves in

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Courtesy of PPD. Ballard (left) and Wilson will be charged with robbery and other related offenses.

According to a Feb. 6 Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) news release, two suspects responsible for multiple robberies in North Philadelphia’s 22nd and 26th police districts have been detained.

Timothy Ballard, 33,  and Kevin Wilson, 27, were identified as suspects after many anonymous tips about the robberies were given to the PPD. Because of the community’s tips, the identities of the suspects were solidified and given to local news outlets on Dec. 2, 2011. Wilson then turned himself in four days later, on Dec. 5, and Ballard did the same on Feb. 1, 2012.

Suicide victim confirmed as previous Temple student

The tragedy surrounding last night’s suicide on Liacouras Walk continues to resonate throughout the Temple community as more information surfaces about the individual. Though the young man was not currently registered at Temple, Ray Betzer, assistant vice president of university communications, has confirmed that the victim was last registered as a Temple student during one of the summer 2010 semesters.

Click here for the full story.

One suspect in armed robberies surrenders

One of two suspects believed to be responsible for the Nov. 30 chain of robberies near Main Campus turned himself in Monday, Dec. 5 at 9 p.m. Four out of five robberies and attempted robberies included students, police say.

Timothy Ballard, 31, has an arrest warrant active.

Kevin Wilson, 26, of the 3800 block of North Franklin Street in Hunting Park, surrendered at the 39th District headquarters at 22nd Street and Hunting Park Avenue.

Wilson was then taken to the Central Detective Division for further investigation.  He is currently in custody and charged with five counts each of Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Violation of the Uniform Firearms Act (VUFA) and related offenses.

Wilson’s suspected accomplice, Timothy Ballard, 31, has an arrest warrant active and has not been apprehended.

“Police are still aggressively looking for Ballard, pulling out all the stops. I believe an arrest is imminent,” said Charles Leone, deputy director of Campus Safety Services.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Central Detective Division at 215-686-3093 / 3094 or call 911.

Student is robbed on Polett update

As the crime continues to be researched, more details on this morning’s robbery on the 1200 block of Polett Walk have become available.

Charles Leone, deputy director of Campus Safety Services, said the student was walking west on Polett Walk around 1:15 a.m. when a male approached him, displayed a handgun and said to “give all you got.”  But, not giving up his belongings, the student grabbed the male’s arms and a struggle broke out. They both fell to the ground and the offender hit the student in the back, got up, swiped the student’s phone from the ground and started running. He headed north on 12th Street from Polett and was last seen heading  towards Susquehanna Avenue.

Responding Temple Police took the victim around the area in a search for anyone resembling the offender but no one was identified. Other responding officers searched the area as well.

The student was then taken to the Philadelphia Police Central Detective Division where Temple Police and Philadelphia Police detectives worked together to investigate the incident.

“We’ve increased patrols on Polett and Liacouras Walks in the evening and nights each day.  Temple Police detectives have been canvassing the area talking with people where we believe the offender may have gone,” Leone said.

The Temple and Philadelphia police departments will continue collaborating information for the patrol officers and detectives.

Student is robbed on Polett Walk

This morning at 1:30 am., a Temple student was robbed in the 1200 block of Polett Walk, right by the Bell Tower.

The suspect was described via a TU Advisory from Temple Police as a black male in his late 20s or early 30s, about 6 feet tall, medium build, medium complexion, wearing dark clothing with a gray hood underneath. He was armed with a black handgun.

Both Philadelphia and Temple Police are investigating this crime. No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information that could be helpful are urged to contact Temple Police at 215-204-1234.

Temple and Drexel team up at Philly Cup

On Saturday, Temple and Drexel’s chapters of Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity (PSP) teamed up to raise money and awareness for Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy group.

Phi Sigma Pi is a co-educational national honor fraternity with 120 active collegiate chapters throughout the country.

Philly Cup took place at Temple’s Geasey Field, where 200 brothers, 30 from Temple’s chapter, participated. Twenty-two chapters were present at the event with brothers from as far away as Louisiana State University.

Temple and Drexel have been working together for the past six years for this annual soccer tournament. It also happens to be the fraternity’s largest inter-chapter fundraiser in the fall.

A representative from Autism Speaks attended the tournament to share about the foundation and autism in general.

After entry fees, t-shirt sales and raffles, Philly Cup raised $2,400.

For more information about this organization or Philly Cup, contact Phi Sigma Phi president Diana Weiss at DianaTWeiss@Temple.edu or Allison Gill at Allison.Gill@Temple.edu.

Saturday PSP brothers from 22 chapters played soccer to raise money for Autism Speaks.

Temple president Diana Weiss (left), Drexel vice president Vince Zaccone (middle), Temple alumni Tim Eboli (right) take a break to pose for a picture.