Crime & Safety

Philly Man Allegedly Assaults Abington Officer During Burglary

The man was in the process of burglarizing a shed in Huntingdon Valley ... and went back to a nearby house the following day, according to police.

Abington Police on Tuesday arrested a Philadelphia man who they say struck an Abington Police officer during a burglary a day before.

Kevin Christopher Ellis, 23, of the 2000 block of Lansing Street, was arrested at about 5 a.m. after a resident of the 900 block of Old Huntingdon Pike called police after confronting a man who had been in his garage, police said. According to police, the man, later identified as Ellis, put up a struggle and fled, but not before removing items like a MIG welder, a table saw, copper plumbing fittings and a compound hunting bow from the garage and stacking them on a cart, ready to be hauled away.

Police responded to the area and saw Ellis at Winding Creek Road and Huntingdon Pike. According to police, Ellis, who was on a small bicycle, first attempted to hide, but then fled. He refused to stop for police, resisted arrest and was forcibly taken into custody, police said. 

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On Monday at about 9:45 p.m., a resident of the 800 block of Huntingdon Pike called police after he saw a man in his backyard near his shed. When police arrived, they saw a snow blower had been removed from the shed; a police officer confronted the man near the shed, later identified as Ellis, police said.

According to police, Ellis then struck the police officer in the arm, knocking the police officer to the ground, and then fled. The officer was not seriously injured, but suffered swelling, and a large contusion on her arm.

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The police officer on Tuesday identified Ellis as the man who struck her. 

Ellis was charged with aggravated assault and burglary, both felonies; several counts of theft; trespassing; loitering and prowling at night; and resisting arrest. He was arraigned by District Judge Juanita Price and bail was set at $99,000. A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 30 at 10:30 a.m.

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Originally posted Sept. 19 at 5:55 a.m.


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