West Philly residents who live in the 18th Police District boundaries are again invited to attend community meetings with local police officers. Monthly meetings at the Calvary Center (48th and Baltimore) have recently resumed after a nearly two-year long COVID-related hiatus.

Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month. The next meeting will take place this Thursday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. Lt. Kevin Livewell of the University City Division of the 18th Police District and representatives of University City District (UCD) will participate in the meeting. Continue Reading

Philadelphia authorities have been investigating a series of suspicious fires in West Philadelphia that occurred since the beginning of June and have made an arrest in connection to at least two fires. A 25-year-old man was arrested last week on the suspicion of igniting a September 12th rubbish fire and a September 18th house fire that injured two people and caused substantial property damage, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

The Philadelphia Arson and Explosives Task Force operating under the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has been investigating the following additional fires, all incendiary in nature, that may be linked to the suspect: Continue Reading

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), State Representative Joanna McClinton, State Senator Anthony H. Williams and City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) will host a community event tonight in response to the tragic shootings in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood during a July 4th cookout. Two men in their 20s were killed and a 16-year-old girl was injured.

The event, titled “Hope and Healing” is in support of Cobbs Creek residents in the aftermatch of the shootings.

“This event, along with other recent shootings in the area, have left community members feeling afraid for their safety and the wellbeing of their loved ones and neighbors,” reads an official announcement. Continue Reading

There has been an increase in carjacking incidents in many city neighborhoods, according to reports, a worrying trend that is likely part the overall increase in violence in the city during the pandemic.

A very brazen armed carjacking attempt took place on Wednesday, April 21 near 46th and Pine Streets, which led to an arrest of three suspects. The incident took place at 3:30 p.m. on Pine Street in front of the Garden Court condominium, according to reports. The male victim, a Garden Court resident, had just placed an item in his parked car when he was approached by four masked young males, each armed with a gun, according to police.

The suspects took the car keys from the victim and his wallet, got in the vehicle and sped off. The victim was able to hide his phone and called 911 immediately after the incident. Police responded within a few minutes and spotted the stolen vehicle nearby. After a pursuit the vehicle crashed into a fence on a dead end street and three out of the four suspects were apprehended when they tried to flee the crash scene. Continue Reading

Community members have a chance to learn more about recent gunpoint robberies in the neighborhoods of Garden Court, Cedar Park and other parts of the University City area (see more info here) and receive safety tips at an emergency follow-up meeting with the 18th Police District. The meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m.

The first meeting was held last Friday, but many people were not able to participate due to limited capacity. Monday’s meeting will not have a capacity limit, according to Shamssadeen Baukman, a community relations officer for the 18th District.  Continue Reading

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There has been an uptick in robberies at gunpoint and car jackings in the Cedar Park, Garden Court and Spruce Hill neighborhoods, according to police. Police have scheduled an emergency info meeting, which will be held via Zoom on Friday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. Robbery prevention tips will also be provided at the meeting.

To join the meeting, please go to: https://zoom.us/join and enter the meeting ID and passcode provided in the attached flyer.

The following incidents have been reported in the last seven days (Sources: Cedar Park Neighbors Forum, Spot Crime):

• 4800 block of Osage (robbery/carjacking) – January 10th

• 48th and Larchwood (robbery/carjacking) – January 9th

• 4700 block of Osage (robbery) – January 9th, 6:50 p.m.  Continue Reading