Woman assaulted

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What is believed to have been a verbal dispute between a man and woman allegedly turned violent, with the latter badly beaten and then placed in a medically induced coma.

James Beckham, 64, from the 2100 block of Dickinson Street in Point Breeze, was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, possession of an instrument of crime and criminal trespass.

At about 5:30 p.m. Jan. 27, officers responded to a radio call for a disturbance at a Wine & Spirits Shoppe at 1446 Point Breeze Ave., where they were met by a 34-year-old bleeding profusely from her face, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said.

She told police a man struck her in the face several times with a crowbar after an argument, the nature of which police did not make public, that occurred on the 2100 block of Dickinson a short time before. After the alleged attack, the woman and a group of male witnesses chased Beckham, who fled into the liquor store, where police found him hiding in the rear stockroom.

Officers recovered the crowbar from a vacant lot across the street from the business, Tolliver said.

Medic 40 transported the victim to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where she was placed into the temporary state of unconsciousness. The injured woman sustained several facial lacerations and possible fractures to her facial bones, the detective said.

Violent home invasion

A woman was held at knifepoint, bound and robbed in a harrowing home invasion on the 1700 block of South Chadwick Street in Point Breeze.

At about 4:30 p.m. Jan. 28, the 51-year-old was home alone and asleep when she was awakened by two men opening her bedroom door, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detectives said.

The victim got out of bed and started watching the two, who had moved to another room and began rifling through things. When they spotted her, the duo, armed with large kitchen knives, chased her into her room, the detective said. The perpetrators held the woman to the ground at knifepoint and demanded money, after which they ransacked her room of $1,500, a cellphone and a PlayStation 3.

At one point during the heist, the woman escaped and fled down the stairs, but slipped and broke her right ankle. The men carried her back upstairs, where they tied her up with tape and blankets before fleeing the scene, police said. The victim eventually was able to break free and call police.

Other than the ankle injury, which she went to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for, she was unharmed in the harrowing incident.

The men were described as black, ages 25 to 30, about 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-9 with medium builds and wearing fabric over their faces.

To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.

Accused murderer pleads guilty

A 16-year-old charged, along with a 19-year-old, of fatally gunning down two teens in Grays Ferry last spring pled guilty to two counts of murder. No sentencing date had been set by press time.

Anthony Satchell, 16, of the 2600 block of Dickinson Street, issued the plea Jan. 26 while his alleged accomplice, Derek Barnes, from the 1500 block of South Bailey Street, is due back in court Feb. 19, Office of the District Attorney spokeswoman Tasha Jamerson said.

Satchell allegedly fired multiple shots at Dominique Smith, 17, of the 1400 block of South 32nd Street, and Harvey Lewis, 15, of the 1100 block of South 20th Street, with one bullet hitting each in the back of head at 9:47 p.m. April 19 while the teens were on their way home from a friend’s house, police said at the time. Lewis was enrolled in the Philadelphia Police Explorer Cadet Program, which trains young people interested in a career in law enforcement.

Smith and his friend each were pronounced dead at the scene on the 1600 block of South 29th Street before 10 p.m.

A week later, the suspects were nabbed inside their respective Grays Ferry homes due to tips provided to homicide investigators. A 9mm gun was found inside Barnes’ dwelling, albeit police said Satchell was the alleged shooter.

According to police, Satchell and Barnes thought Smith and Lewis were from rival area 31st Street, but even after they realized they were not, Satchell still allegedly shot the teens.

The two each had been charged with two counts of murder, three counts criminal conspiracy engaging murder, two counts possession of an instrument of crime, various firearm violations and related offenses. Bail was set at $500,000 for each.

Stabbed trying to stop fight

A man who tried to intervene in a brawl between his friend and another man outside a South Street bar wound up stabbed.

The 26-year-old received several knife wounds to his right calf and hand, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detectives said. The leg wound needed 12 staples and the hand wound required four stitches at Jefferson Hospital.

At about 1:45 a.m. Monday, the victim was outside Mako’s Bar at Third and South streets in Queen Village when he spotted his 23-year-old pal taking a beating from an unknown man, Tolliver said. As the victim went to assist his friend and began holding on to the attacker in an attempt to stop him, the latter pulled a folding knife and began thrusting it into the 26-year-old.

The younger man was not hurt in the incident.

The offender was described as white, age 25 to 28, about 5-foot-8 with a reddish beard and wearing a denim jacket.

To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.

Display of gun

While walking on the 1500 block of Catharine Street in Hawthorne, a 16-year-old had a gun pulled on him by two men who he claimed said nothing in their display.

The teen was walking at about 6:20 p.m. when the duo approached head-on and the shorter of the two pointed a silver handgun at him, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detectives said. After the victim ran to the corner of 15th and Webster streets, he turned around to find both perpetrators had gone in a direction he didn’t see.

The men were described as black and ages 16 to 18; the gunman was about 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds with a light complexion, large lips, bushy eyebrows and in all black clothing and yellow sneakers; his accomplice was about 6-foot-4 and wearing all black.

To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.

Burning businesses

A two-alarm fire that impacted two establishments was under control within an hour of starting at about 12:30 a.m. Jan. 30.

Flames quickly spread from its origin at YD Hardwood Flooring, 1900 Washington Ave., to neighboring Weilite Roofing and Supply Co., 1902 Washington, police said. Cause of the fire was pending at press time.

Neither structure was occupied at the time and there were no injuries to fire or police personnel.

Also on location were PECO, the Department of Licenses & Inspections, PGW and the Streets Department.

Washington was blocked off from 17th to 21st streets until early the next morning, according a witness.

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