Cheltenham PD makes Armed Robbery Arrest

On Thanksgiving Day, the Cheltenham Police Department apprehended an armed robber at approximately 6:10pm at the Rite Aid store at 1401 W Cheltenham Ave. Police were responding to a report of an armed robbery in progress.

When the police arrived, one saw a person leaving the store that fit the description of the robber based on the report. When an Officer tried to apprehend the individual, a violent struggle ensued. With the help of additional Officers, the suspect was taken into custody and then positively identified by witnesses as the person who robbed the Rite Aid. Police found a fully-loaded handgun that was stolen in a previous robbery in Philadelphia on the suspect, as well as cash and goods taken from the Rite Aid.

After further investigation, the Philadelphia Police matched the same suspect to an armed robbery that occurred at the 7-11 store on North 5th Street a short time earlier.

The suspect arrested is Ryan Boothe, 36 years old, of the 2000 block of Spencer Street in Philadelphia. Boothe is charged with multiple violations of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, including multiple counts of Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Harassment by Prisoner, Persons not to Possess Firearms, Resisting Arrest, Theft by Unlawful Taking, Receiving Stolen Property, Possessing Instruments of Crime, and Prohibited Offensive Weapons.

Boothe is a previously convicted felon, which makes it against the law for him to possess a firearm. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Kessler and bail was set at $1 million. Unable to post bail, Booth was remanded to the Montgomery County Correction Facility while a preliminary hearing date is pending.

The suspect is innocent until proven guilty.