Authorities Announce 2 More Arrests In Connection With Jewelers' Row Abduction Case
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department have announced two additional arrests in connection with the kidnapping of a Center City jewelry store worker in April.
"At this point, in our investigation, we believe we have the three men responsible," said ATF Assistant Special Agent Anthony Tropea.
Nearly two months after the alleged kidnapping and robbery of a jewelry store employee along Jewelers' Row, ATF officials working in conjunction with Philadelphia Police announce the arrest of the final two suspects they believe to be involved in the alleged crime.
"These arrests, hopefully, will bring some measure of relief to the victim, to the business that these three men allegedly targeted, to the business community in Jewelers' Row in Center City, and to the public at large," said Tropea.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, ATF officials arrested a 26-year-old man in Northeast Philadelphia and a 35-year-old man in South Philadelphia. They now join their alleged accomplice who was already in police custody.
All have been linked to the alleged assault and kidnapping of a 53-year-old employee on April 4th. Agents say the alleged victim sustained hours of torture after being kidnapped from a parking garage near the store on Jewelers' Row.
"They abducted the victim, they allegedly struck her, repeatedly used a taser to stun her and kidnapped her by taking her out of the garage and allegedly driving her to the cemetery in Southwest Philadelphia," said Tropea.
The two suspects were arrested without incident. They will make their first federal court appearance Friday afternoon.
