Suspect arrested in West Phila. robberies

Philadelphia detectives have arrested a 21-year-old man they say they believe wielded an Uzi-like gun in a three-day spree of business robberies last week in West Philadelphia.

Timothy Scott, of the 4100 block of Ogden Street, was arrested on the street near his home Friday evening and held on a bench warrant.

He was charged Monday with two of the six armed robberies he is thought to have committed, all of them while wearing a mask and carrying a machine pistol. The gun, which police described as a Mac-10 and is similar to an Uzi, has not been recovered.

In each robbery, police said, Scott threatened patrons and business owners with the weapon.

Detectives identified Scott as the suspect last week after a witness came forward. The witness had seen the bandit remove his mask shortly after one of the robberies.

Police are trying to link Scott to all six robberies, but so far he has been charged only with hitting the Caprice Villa bar at 5000 Market St. and a state-run liquor store at 4600 Lancaster Ave. Police said he got about $1,300 in those two robberies.

The other robberies, which began June 16 and continued through Thursday, included two more bars, a second State Store, and a market.

"They're difficult cases because he was pretty tightly masked up," said Lt. John Walker with Southwest Detectives. "We believe he is our suspect in those four jobs."

In at least three of the robberies, the suspect was accompanied by a second masked man, who carried a handgun. That man remains at large.

In some of the robberies, the bandits fled the scene on black BMX bicycles. In the Caprice robbery, police said yesterday, a second accomplice stood outside the bar as a lookout.

Scott was arrested earlier this year, on April 25, on charges of illegally carrying a weapon, possession of marijuana, and other offenses.

He posted bail and was released May 22. He did not appear for a subsequent court hearing, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He was held on that bench warrant Friday until charges in the robberies could be filed.