A Philadelphia police sergeant was hospitalized after helping to capture two men who allegedly posed as police officers while robbing a Northeast woman in her home.
The legitimate police sergeant, identified in a published report as Jeffrey Strunk of the 8th district, was treated and released from Aria Health-Torresdale within hours of the Friday evening episode. His injuries were not specified.
According to the police department’s media relations office, a 50-year-old woman reported that two men who identified themselves as police detectives confronted her outside of her home on the 12000 block of Abby Road at about 6 p.m.
Mark Kelly, 38, of the 5900 block of B St., and William Gray, 38, of the 3200 block of Mercer St., allegedly demanded prescription pills from the woman and followed her into her home, where they also demanded money.
As the woman drove her car to a bank on the 12000 block of Knights Road, the suspects followed her in a separate car, a black 2003 Ford Taurus with New Jersey tags.
After the woman withdrew $500 from an ATM, Gray — who allegedly wore a Philadelphia police polo shirt and carried handcuffs — began to argue with her.
The 8th district sergeant spotted the dispute and investigated. As Gray re-entered the drivers’ seat of his car, the sergeant reached in for him and caught his arm in the vehicle. With Kelly in the passenger seat, Gray allegedly floored the accelerator, dragging the police sergeant several feet.
Gray allegedly crashed the car a short distance away. He and Kelly then fled on foot, police say, but other 8th district officers arrested them on the 4100 block of Carteret St.
Both suspects were charged with robbery, aggravated assault, theft, kidnapping, impersonating an officer, burglary, reckless endangerment, simple assault and conspiracy. ••
