During Thursday’s press conference, Abington Township Chief of Police Patrick Molloy spoke candidly about the recent arrest of Khalil Evans, the 44-year-old male suspect who attempted to abduct a teenaged female at the Willow Grove Park Mall on Wednesday evening.

Chief Molloy noted during the press conference that Evans had a “28-page rap sheet” coming into the investigation, including “numerous weapons offenses, possession of firearms, aggravated assault, terroristic threats.” Molloy described him “as an individual who should not have been on the street.”

“We’ve received numerous tips from other individuals that our suspect approached other young women in this mall, and possibly other locations throughout the Delaware Valley,” Chief Molloy said. “We’re happy to report that this guy is off the street.”

Lieutenant Steven Fink noted during the press conference that the second male’s exact role in the attempted abduction is still under review, and that currently no charges have been filed against him.

Evans is facing charges of unlawful imprisonment of a minor, a second-degree felony.

Chief Molloy expressed frustration that the incident took place at all given the suspect’s elaborate criminal background.

“Dangerous felons are let back onto the street to prey upon our citizens. This shouldn’t have happened. He should’ve been detained, he should’ve been in jail. This here is a disgrace. We need to do a better job. The system failed,” Molloy said.

On July 7, Glenside Local interviewed Patrol Sergeant Joe Blythe, a 22-year veteran of the Abington Township Police Department, and his thoughts on changes to policing over the last decade seem to apply to the Willow Grove Park Mall incident:

I see people get bailed on things that they never used to get bailed on, and you just end up seeing them again a couple weeks later. You have to keep people off the street if they present themselves as a hazard. People not being held accountable is what’s caused the spike in crime.

The full press conference is available here:

For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.