Upper Darby police have arrested a Philadelphia man on charges of assaulting and robbing an elderly couple on the way to the market. That couple was helped by a passer-by who stopped the suspect.
Keith G. Brinson, 47, of the 5000 block of Diamond Street was charged with multiple counts of robbery, simple assault, theft and receiving stolen property.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Detective Mazen Malak:
At 11:50 a.m. Friday, officers responded to the 7000 block of Terminal Square for the report of a robbery with injuries.
An elderly couple had been robbed, with one of them suffering scrapes and abrasions from the attack.
Police also spoke to a passerby who chased the attacker and confronted him following the robbery.
The couple told police they were walking toward the H-Mart grocery, when the attacker lunged at the husband and removed his wallet with $80 in it from his pants pocket.
The wife tried to intervene and the attacker grabbed her purse, which was secured around her body, dragging her along the sidewalk attempting to take it.
A witness saw the robber fleeing through an alley toward Garrett Road and gave chase in his vehicle to cut off the suspect. He confronted the man and recovered the purse and wallet.
Police reviewed surveillance video and posted images of the attacker to social media asking the public’s assistance identifying the man.
The investigation led to Brunson.
After becoming aware that he was being sought on social media for the robbery, the suspect called the police station and admitted that he was the male they were looking for, Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt said.
When he was told to turn himself in, he asked if they could give him a ride to police headquarters, which Bernhardt happily did.
At the police station, Brunson identified himself in still images from the surveillance video including holding the victim’s purse.
Brinson was arraigned before District Judge Elizabeth S. Gallard, who set bail at 10 percent of $75,000 which Brinson was unable to post. He was taken to Delaware County prison to await an Aug. 27 preliminary hearing in front of District Judge Benjamin Johns.
“A huge thank you to the good Samaritan who stepped in to help our two elderly victims, and another amazing job by our Patrol and Detective divisions in identifying and arresting the suspect responsible for this cowardly and despicable act,” Bernhardt said. “Let this serve as another reminder: If you come into Upper Darby Township and commit crimes, you will be arrested, charged accordingly, and prosecuted by our District Attorney’s Office.”