A pair of Lansdowne men were arrested in a bid to sell a stolen car, then stiffing the buyer at threat of a handgun in Upper Darby.
They drove back into the township a few hours later in the same car and it didn’t long for the police to find them because of the license plate had been fed into the plate readers around the township.
Snell (COURTESY OF UPPER DARBY POLICE)
Nicholas Snell, 21, 200 block of Coverly Road, Lansdowne, was charged with robbery, theft, evading arrest and related offenses.
Giovanni Polection, 19, also of the 200 block of Coverly Road, had the same charges and a firearms offense.
Polection (COURTESY OF UPPER DARBY POLICE)
Police gave this account:
On Wednesday, Jan. 7 shortly before 3 p.m., police units were dispatched to Long Lane and Pine Street for the report of a robbery just occurred with a firearm.
The victim said she and her boyfriend were attempting to purchase a red Chevrolet Cruze for $1,300 through Facebook Marketplace.
The victim stated they met the seller, later identified as Snell at 2900-3000 Island Avenue in Philadelphia.
The victim indicated she test drove the vehicle and agreed to purchase the vehicle from Snell. The victim stated Snell needed a ride back to his residence and agreed to follow him in her personal car with her boyfriend.
The victim following Snell in Cruze into the township to the area of the 7200 block of Guilford Road in a rear alleyway.
Polection got out of the Cruze and walked toward the victim, then pulled out a handgun and held it at his side, looking “in the direction of the victim.”
Polection got back into the Cruze and the car sped away. The victim indicated she attempted to follow but was unable to find it.
Police learned that the car was stolen. The car rang up on a license plate reader as the suspects drove out of the township.
Then it rang up coming back about 8:30 p.m. on Marshall Road. Numerous patrol officers jumped into the hunt.
The Cruze was located at 6901 Marshall Road at the Luk Oil unoccupied with Snell and Giovanni inside the business. The suspects ran for it.
Giovanni was taken into custody in the area of the 500 block of Wiltshire Road. He tossed a black Sig Saur P365 with a magazine loaded with one live 9 mm round, which was located.
Snell was taken into custody after attempting to hide inside of the Luk Oil.
Snell was arraigned by District Judge W. Keith Williams II, who set bail at 10% of $200,000. Snell has not posted bail and remains at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.
Polection was also arraigned by Williams, who set bail at 10% of $150,000. Polection has not posted bail and remains at George W. Hill.
Both have hearings scheduled for Jan. 23 before District Judge Christopher R. Mattox.