Some West Philly Local readers witnessed an arrest Monday night, around 9 p.m., near 45th and Osage, when two young males (looked to be between 15 and 18 years old) were handcuffed and taken away in a police van.

We learned that the arrest was made by Penn Police and the suspects, both early teens, were arrested for theft. Police say they stole a bike from 44th and Osage by cutting the lock with bolt cutters, according to Joe Murray of the Southwest Detectives. One of the alleged thieves is only 13 years old.

A late-night robbery spree this week led to two arrests, according to police. Three robberies – at 46th and Chester, 45th and Larchwood, and 42nd and Osage – happened within 15-20 minutes from one another, beginning around 11:55 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12 and going into early Wednesday. The Osage and Larchwood Avenue robberies were at a gunpoint, said Joseph Murray of the Southwest Detectives (@PPDJoeMurray).

That same night, the 18th district police arrested two suspects they believe were involved in these incidents. One of the arrested men is suspected in the Chester and Osage Avenue robberies.

54-year-old Anthony Dent was arrested in connection with two recent burglaries, including the burglary at City Tap House, according to police. Both burglaries were captured by surveillance cameras. On January 18, at 7:30 a.m., Dent apparently entered the City Tap House building located at 3925 Walnut Street, took a laptop computer from an office, then stole assorted meats from the freezer and fled through the back emergency exit door.

On January 26 around 5:30 a.m. Dent entered a building located on the 3800 block of Chestnut Street by prying the side door open with a large screwdriver, took some items, including assorted power tools, and placed them in a parked vehicle. He then returned to the building several times for more items, according to police. The suspect was captured on surveillance video on 39th Street where he placed the tools into a parked silver Volvo XC90 and fled.

Dent was arrested on the 1600 block of 62nd Street and charged with burglary, theft and other related offenses.

(Source: Philly Police Blog).

Update: Police said Tuesday that they apprehended Eric Early near Erie and Torresedale avenues. They also added attempted murder to his list of charges. Police also changed his age from 16 to 17.

Police have apprehended one of two teenage brothers wanted in connection with the shooting at the 46th street El stop on Wednesday,  Dec. 12. 16-year-old Eric Early was taken into custody today and charged with Aggravated Assault. Police are still searching for his brother, 18-year-old Matthew Early.

Photo: Philly Police Blog.

Jerome Brooks

A 45-year-old man from Elmira, New York was arrested on murder charges early this morning in the connection with the fatal hit-and-run accident near 48th and Chester on Monday night.

Jerome Brooks was arraigned early this morning on charges that include murder, vehicular homicide and driving under the influence, according to court documents. Brooks was allegedly driving the silver SUV that struck local resident 52-year-old Deanna Teal as she crossed Chester Avenue at 48th Street. Police say that the SUV was traveling at a high speed before striking Teal and did not slow down or stop after the crash.

Teal, who left behind a daughter and six grandchildren, died at the scene. Police found the vehicle several blocks away within a couple of hours of the crash.

A preliminary hearing for Brooks has been scheduled for December 26.

After an intense investigation by the Homicide Unit, Amin Gibbs, a 33-year-old male from the 6800 Block of Dicks Avenue was arrested and charged with murder in the November 17 death of 22-year-old student Zykia Sanders. She was shot in the back outside of West Park Apartments near 45th and Market streets and later died in the hospital. Police offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.

Gibbs was arrested near 7th and Race Street in Center City.

Zykia Sanders.