Three charged
in Northeast holdups

Philadelphia police already have three suspected robbers and tons of stolen merchandise in custody. Now, they’re looking for more victims.
The Northeast Detectives unit has a dozen cell phones, a pile of jackets and coats and a drawer full of jewelry that remain unclaimed by their rightful owners. According to Detective Bob Conn, police recovered the items from three men suspected of committing at least 14 armed robberies in the Northeast and East police divisions in recent weeks.
John Gassew, 21, of the 1600 block of Haworth St., has been charged in all 14 robberies, which occurred between Dec. 7 and 9. Jarrick Dennison, 19, of the 4700 block of Salem St., and Robert Mitchell, 22, of the 1700 block of Scattergood St., have both been linked to two holdups so far.
According to Conn, the men were arrested by uniformed officers at about 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 9 after they mugged two people in rapid succession near the 2000 block of Bridge St.
Police spotted the men standing near a car on the 6100 block of Vandike St. and chased them on foot. One man was taken into custody after getting into the car, while the other two were captured a short distance away.
A subsequent search of the car, a white Chevy Cavalier, resulted in the recovery of 20 phones, the coats and the jewelry, Conn said.
Investigators believe that more accomplices and at least one other vehicle — a dark sedan, possibly a Saturn — were involved in the crime spree, which may have begun prior to Dec. 7.
Typically, Conn said, the offenders would pick somebody at random on the street and rob him at gunpoint. Sometimes, the suspects roughed up their victims before grabbing their valuables. In one instance, they allegedly held up a man outside of Danny Boy’s Bar, at 7447 Torresdale Ave., then went inside the taproom and robbed the business and its patrons.
Anyone who may have been victimized by the same group of males recently may claim their lost property by calling Detective Conn or Detective Bob Kane at 215-686-3153. Callers will be asked to describe their property in detail. ••