Traffic stop nets heroin

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A traffic stop by Pennsylvania State Police Tuesday led to a massive heroin bust and three people taken into custody.

At about 4:30 a.m., troopers spotted two vehicles running stop signs on Packer Avenue near 18th Street, according to a press release issued by state police. After the officers stopped the cars and got permission from the drivers to search them, one vehicle allegedly netted five kilograms of heroin with a street value of $1.6 million. The narcotics were found in a coffee-maker box in the trunk and the driver, Mark Smith, 22, and his passenger John Jackson, 23, both of Arizona, were arrested and charged with conspiracy and possession, the release said.

In the second car, a Chevy SUV, police allegedly found a small amount of marijuana and took the driver, Kyle Johnson, no age given, of North Philly, into custody. Johnson was charged with possession.

State police investigators said the two automobiles were traveling together to an unknown destination.

Covered in blood

When police arrived at the scene of a stabbing, they encountered the 35-year-old victim and his alleged attacker, each covered in blood, with the latter holding the victim’s year-old daughter.

A verbal dispute over ownership of belongings is believed to have prompted the bloodshed at about 12:20 p.m. Saturday.

Officers responding to a report of a person with a weapon found the pair verbally sparring on the street and the man covered in blood with stab wounds to his stomach and left arm, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. The suspect — identified as Christina Costobile, 34, from the 1400 block of Porter Street — also was stained with blood. The child was unharmed and without blood stains, police said.

Costobile was taken into custody at the scene, while the victim was hauled off via medic to Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in stable condition. Due to the seriousness of his injuries, the man was taken into surgery.

The knife — black-handled with an 11-inch blade — allegedly used in the attack was recovered in the kitchen of the home the couple shared.

Costobile was charged with possession of an instrument of crime, aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child.

The baby was placed in the custody of the Department of Human Services.

Stabbed in the chest

Police arrested a man’s girlfriend after he told them she knifed him in his chest during an argument Sunday night on the 1800 block of South 24th Street.

Deanna Wilks, 26, from the 3800 block of Haverford Avenue in Belmont, was charged with aggravated and simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person.

When police got to the scene at about 10:20 p.m. after being called by the man, they noticed bleeding from his upper chest, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. After he identified his partner as his attacker at the scene, Wilks was arrested and police recovered the knife believed to be the weapon in the kitchen of the 24th Street residence.

The 38-year-old victim went to HUP in stable condition.

Investigators don’t know what sparked the violence.

Arrested for attacking cop

A 4th District cop was assaulted and spit on by an irate woman during a traffic stop, police said.

Latifa Goldman, 22, from the 5400 block of Rutland Street, was arrested and charged with possession of an instrument of crime, aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m. Monday, 4th District police stopped a 2006 Mercedes that allegedly ran a stop sign on the 700 block of Reed Street. When the operator, identified as Goldman, handed over her requested documents, the car was not registered and the suspect’s license, suspended, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detectives said.

While police radioed for a tow truck, the woman allegedly exited her vehicle and began yelling and cursing. After instructing her to cease her behavior and get back in the car, Goldman refused and allegedly struck the officer on the side of his head with her removed shoe, kicked him in the leg and then spat in his face, Tolliver said. Backup officers arrived and took the woman into custody, but not before she allegedly put up a fight and spit at them, too.

The officer who was slapped with the shoe did not seek medical attention.

Bank robber on the loose

Nearly a week after a man robbed a local Wachovia branch, he remains on the loose.

Bank surveillance photo

At 10:49 a.m. Sept. 3, the man entered the bank at 2710 S. Third St. and presented a threatening demand note to a teller, FBI spokesman J.J. Klaver said. Authorities did not reveal the contents of the note, but the suspect obtained an undisclosed amount of cash and ran out of the bank, going west on Oregon Avenue.

Considered armed and dangerous, the perpetrator was described as white, in his 30s, about 5-foot-11 and tall with a heavy build, short black hair, cleanshaven and wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers.

To report information, call the FBI at 215-418-4000.

Fired upon

A 39-year-old took two bullets to his inner right thigh and left hand while standing on the corner of 28th and Jackson streets Saturday night.

The victim told police he heard about six shots and noticed a man he did not know firing in his direction shortly before midnight, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detectives said. The victim made a run for it, going west on Jackson, and called police.

A medic transported the wounded party to HUP in stable condition. The victim was unable to provide police with a description of the gunman. To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.

Melee at the Melrose

A feud between two groups of Melrose Diner patrons early Friday resulted in injuries and two arrests.

Michael Emma and Joseph Baldino, both 24 and from the 1300 block of Geary Street, were charged with two counts each of conspiracy, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.

The victim who suffered a forking received a large scrape to his back, while the another victim sustained contusions and cuts to his head. Neither required hospital treatment and police said they do not know what ignited the brawl.

The victims, a 24- and 25-year-old, were having a meal inside the establishment at 1501 Snyder Ave. when they became involved in a physical altercation with a group of about four other men at another table. According to investigators, Baldino was spotted striking the younger victim in the head with a metal napkin dispenser, while Emma was seen stabbing the second victim in the back with a fork, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detectives said.

Getting their goats

A radio call to investigate a car with two animals inside turned up two brown goats. The mysterious incident happened shortly after 11 a.m. Saturday on the 1400 block of Wharton Street, where police observed an unoccupied silver Ford van with the creatures inside, Officer Tanya Little of the Police Public Affairs Unit said.

The Philadelphia Animal Care and Control Association was called to bring in the goats, which were not harmed and in good condition, police said.

The incident was still under investigation at press time and the owner of the vehicle had not been located.

Charged with 18 robberies

What appears to be a one-man mugging machine has been apprehended by South Detectives and charged with 18 gunpoint robberies that took place throughout August. Eugene Jones, 42, was taken into custody at 8:45 p.m. Aug. 29 outside his home on the 1900 block of South Bonsall Street.

Eugene Jones

In many of the incidents, the suspect would chamber his firearm to gain the victim’s attention and then demand their personal property, Lt. Frank Vanore of the Police Public Affairs Unit said. Wallets, cellphones and credit cards made up the cache of the alleged stolen goods. Jones would park a black Chevy a short distance from his targets and make his getaway in the car, Vanore said.

The day after Jones’ arrest, a search of his residence turned up what police believed to be stolen purses, credit cards, pieces of identification and cellphones.

The following incidents for which Jones has been charged with robbery, theft and related offenses are: about 1:55 p.m. Aug. 5 on the 700 block of Kimball Street, 24- and 25-year-old females were mugged; 2:39 a.m. Aug. 6 on the 1100 block of South 16th Street, a 22-year-old female was targeted; shortly before 5 a.m. Aug. 8, a 34-year-old man was robbed on the 1200 block of Annin Street; about 9:40 a.m. Aug. 10 on the 2500 block of South 18th Street, a 60-year-old female had her purse snatched; 11:52 a.m. Aug. 17, a 29-year-old man was mugged on the 1900 block of South 15th Street; 10 p.m. Aug. 21 on the 2300 block of Naudain Street, a 48-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman were robbed; about 1:25 a.m. Aug. 22 on the 2000 block of South 13th Street, a 27-year-old man was targeted; 7 a.m. Aug. 25 on the 900 block of North 26th Street in North Philly, 40- and 33-year-old men were robbed; 6 a.m. Aug. 28 on the 1700 block of Mifflin Street, a 23-year-old man and a 17-year-old female were mugged; 9:45 p.m. Aug. 28 on the 1500 block of South 13th Street, a 31-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man were victimized; shortly after 2 a.m. Aug. 29 on the 900 block of South Ninth Street, a 23-year-old female and a 30-year-old male were accosted; and at 8:15 p.m. Aug. 29 on the 2100 block of South 13th, a 40-year-old woman was robbed.