Community Corner

Lower Pottsgrove Bank Robber Might Still Be Loose, Probably Isn't, Police Say

Police spent Wednesday afternoon and the early evening searching for a suspect they now believe never existed.

Written by Tom Sunnergren 

It is unknown of a fourth armed robber was involved in the National Penn Bank robbery in Lower Pottsgrove on Wednesday, according to authorities.

According to Lower Pottsgrove Police Chief Michael Foltz, while evidence is piling up up that there were only three men involved in the robbery—and not the four police initially believed were a party to the crime when they shut down the area of Montgomery Avenue and Spring Mill Road in Lower Merion for a manhunt for the missing, and possibly nonexistent, crook that afternoon—he said his department is still investigating the possibility of a fourth man.

Find out what's happening in Limerick-Royersford-Spring Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We know we have three suspects in custody," Foltz said on Thursday. "The [existence] of a fourth one, we're still unable to confirm."

Foltz explained that Lower Merion and Upper Merion Police established a secure perimeter shortly after police arrested three of the alleged robbers in Greenwood Court in Lower Merion Township following a car chase. 

Find out what's happening in Limerick-Royersford-Spring Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But while it seems unlikely to him that the fourth robber could have eluded police, the eye witness who spotted a fourth man in the car is a reliable one: an off-duty police officer.

"We're still trying to find out if there's another accomplice," Foltz added.

The three men arrested and charged for the robbery are identified in court documents as James Byrd, 25, Ishaq Ibrahim, 27, and Kelani Laird, 31.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here