Kareem Drayton, who is accused of raping a local resident during gunpoint robbery in the Fall 2011 and a few other robberies, will be back in court on Friday, Sept. 7. Drayton initially confessed to the rape, but has since fired his lawyer and asked to withdraw his guilty plea and go to trial at his last court appearance, according to court records. The judge will consider Drayton’s request at Friday’s hearing.

Some members of the 48th Street Neighbors town watch group, which was created as a result of the Fall 2011 rape and robberies, were present at the previous hearing and are planning to attend Friday’s hearing to show their support for the victims.

The hearing will be in room 802, at the Criminal Justice Center (13th and Filbert), beginning at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Drayton’s alleged accomplice, 19-year-old Tyshanek Presley, was sentenced on August 13. About a half-dozen residents were in the courtroom for the sentencing, along with about 20 members of Presley’s family.

Here are a few stories from around West Philadelphia in the past week or so. Thanks to all the contributors who sent us information.

• Child Sexually Assaulted in Belmont. Police are searching for two men who sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl on Saturday night (Aug. 25, 8:34 p.m.) in the Belmont area of West Philly. The men accosted the girl when she was reportedly walking home from a nearby block party, took her to the rear of an abandoned building near Cambridge and 41st Street and raped. The men are described between 20 and 30 years old. Read more about the ongoing investigation here. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251.
• Mantua Community Group Suing Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell. A local community group, Mantua Community Planners, is suing Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and the City of Philadelphia for kicking them out of the recreation center at 34th and Haverford. The suit claims that Blackwell locked the group out of the building that they had occupied for 45 years, removed their desks and office equipment and destroyed historical records of MCP’s work within the community. In addition to that, Blackwell allegedly struck a supporter of the group with her car’s side-view mirror and drove away. Blackwell denies both claims. Blackwell, the group alleges, is “selling out the community to the highest bidder and her political supporters.” To read more about the lawsuit, click here.
• First Round Capital Moves to West Philadelphia. First Round Capital, one of the nation’s top early-stage venture capital firms, is planning to move its headquarters to West Philly. The company, with current headquarters in West Conshohocken, has set sights on the building at 4040 Locust Street, the former Urban Outfitters store location. It is planned to initially employ about 10 people in the West Philly office and also to host five startup companies including Technically Philly, Uber Philadelphia, and Curalate, according to an article in the Area Development magazine. In addition, 24 entrepreneurs will be invited to develop their concepts and there will be space to host educational and community events.

Police say that there have been no robberies similar to this one in the area. A stranger approached a couple who were sitting on their porch near 50th and Osage last night, about 4:10 p.m., threatened them with a gun and robbed them. Here’s what one of the victims wrote. She calls the robber “a scam artist.”

On Friday evening at 4:10 p.m. a man came onto our porch at 50th st and Osage. He claimed something was happening in the neighborhood and we needed to know about it, he seemed friendly… later he “admitted” he was sent to hurt my boyfriend and he wanted to be paid off. He threatened both of us with a gun. He then led my boyfriend to an ATM and demanded $100. He got it. He was about 5’8″, dark skin, jaundice yellow eyes, buzz cut, round features. He was between 35-40yrs old with a gut. He wore a yellow polo. He was very calm, collected, manipulative, and convincing. He sat on our porch and smoked our cigarettes while threatening us. I want everyone to be warned…

The couple alerted their neighbors about this incident and would like to warn everyone to be careful when answering your door to strangers or to go inside if you’re on your porch and see any suspicious behavior.

Two Salt and Pepper Deli workers, a 44-year-old man and a 41-year-old man, were attacked Sunday night at about 1 a.m. near their home on the 1100 block of S. 47th Street, according to police. The men had just finished working and were walking home to their apartment building when three males wearing all dark clothing stopped them as they entered the building. One of the attackers was armed with a machete while another male was armed with a handgun.

The attackers forced the victims into the apartment where one of the victims lives. The third robber handcuffed both victims when they got inside the apartment. The attackers took $800 from the 44-year-old man (his pay from work) and his Apple Macbook Laptop. After the robbers finished searching the apartment, they uncuffed both of the victims and fled. There were no injuries reported. All three suspects were wearing black masks and gloves.

CBS reports that one of the victims is Narom Uon, a cook at the Salt and Pepper Deli and his two daughters, a 10-year-old and a 13-year-old were witnesses to the home invasion. Reportedly, they were told to sit in the living room while the robbers were searching their apartment. Uon was interviewed on the local CBS station.

A gun battle terrified nearby residents and damaged several cars early this morning near the corner of 49th Street and Warrington Avenue. No injuries were reported. Police report that at least 22 shots were fired at about 4 a.m., blowing the windows out of several cars. An investigation into the shootings continues, police said.

Many residents said they were awoken by what sounded like firecrackers – a series of shots in rapid succession. Residents said that it appeared that the shooters may have been hiding behind cars and exchanging fire.

Police found shell casings from .40 and .45 caliber weapons, indicating that at least two guns were involved.

Philly.com has photos here.

A judge on Monday sentenced the 19-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to robbery charges stemming from a gunpoint mugging and rape last year near 48th and Springfield to 6-12 years in prison.

Tyshanek Presley was also sentenced to 10 years probation. During the sentencing an assistant district attorney read a letter from residents who live near where the crime took place that detailed the impact on the victims and the community (see the letter below). About a half-dozen residents were in the courtroom for the sentencing, along with about 20 members of Presley’s family.

Community members showing up in courtrooms is still rare in Philadelphia, where fear of retribution has made many city residents reluctant to get involved in criminal proceedings. Town watch groups may help change that.

Earlier this month members of the West Frankford Town Watch were in court during the sentencing of a man convicted of straw purchasing guns, one of which was recovered at the scene of a shooting. The judge in that case issued a strong sentence despite the defendant not having any previous criminal record. Continue Reading