Crime & Safety

Police Force Man to Spit Out Stolen Money

Alleged thief was chewing on $125 when police nabbed him in South Bethlehem.

 

A Philadelphia man was chewing on something when Bethlehem police took him into custody Wednesday afternoon. It turned out to be $125 in cash – some of the money that he admitted stealing from a south side man living with a woman with whom the suspect was reportedly romantically involved, according to court records.

Kelvin Brian Norwood, 40, of 5142 Hazel Ave. in the section known as West Philadelphia, “had to be forced [to] spit out the contents of his mouth,” the records say. Police also found a crack pipe when they searched him.
 
Police said Norwood’s “criminal history” shows he has been arrested “a multitude of times” on charges such as robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and “numerous” drug violations.

The records provide the following account as given by the arresting officer, Det. Bradford Jones of the criminal investigation division:

Police received a 911 call around 4:32pm from a man who said he was following another man (Norwood) who had robbed him at his home at 647 Ridge St. An officer found the victim near the intersection of E. Morton and Polk streets, and the victim pointed to a man who was talking to a woman – later identified as the woman with whom the victim resides. The victim later told police the woman “is reportedly romantically involved” with Norwood.
 
Police took Norwood into custody and forced him to spit out the money.

Jones learned more when he interviewed the victim, who said Norwood came to his residence around 4:15pm. The victim told Norwood to leave because the woman was sleeping but Norwood refused. Norwood ripped the victim’s shirt pocket, which contained his wallet, took the wallet and ran.

The wallet contained $212, the victim told Jones. He knew this, he said, because he had $200 to pay bills on Friday and $12 to buy cigarettes for the next two days. The victim recovered his empty wallet and followed Norwood, as did the woman, until police found the victim after his 911 call.

Norwood reportedly threw $87 back at the victim, and when added to the $125 he spit out equals what the victim said he had in his wallet -- $212. Norwood admitted to Jones that he fought with the victim and stole his wallet and money.

Norwood was arraigned Wednesday night by on-duty District Judge Adrianne Masut of Wind Gap on charges of  robbery/commit, threaten bodily injury; robbery/force however slight; theft by unlawful taking; receiving stolen property; harassment/physical contact; tampering with evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sent to Northampton County Prison after failing to post 10 percent of $25,000 bail.


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