A tumultuous six-year relationship ended when a woman allegedly knifed her beau in the chest during an argument, police said.
A woman apparently did in her longtime boyfriend Friday afternoon — first with words and then with a murder weapon, police said.
Lamar Merion, 26, of the 2100 block of Taney Terrace, was pronounced dead at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania around 1 p.m., said Capt. Charles Bloom of the Homicide Division.
Police arrested Latanya Denny, 21, of the 2100 block of Bailey Terrace, and charged her with murder and related offenses, the captain said.
A verbal altercation erupted at Merion’s home shortly before 12:30 p.m., and soon Merion allegedly picked up a plastic chair and began swinging it at Denny while he chased her, Bloom said.
Another woman in the home tried to intervene to no avail, the captain added. Denny then allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and plunged it once into her lover’s chest, Bloom said.
Neighbors and witnesses told homicide detectives that fights between the pair were common over the course of their six-year relationship, the captain said.
Suicide by truck
A 42-year-old man chose to end his life by throwing himself in front of a moving truck Monday afternoon at the Front Street ramp of Interstate 95, police said.
Carey S. Little, of the 1500 block of South Fifth Street, was pronounced dead at the scene around 4:30 p.m., said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detective Division. According to witnesses, the victim was standing in the shoulder lanes of I-95 and Front Street when he walked into the path of a 2000 Mitsubishi truck, the sergeant said. Witnesses told police the driver of the truck tried to slow down and swerve, but he couldn’t because of traffic, reported Biello.
The 34-year-old driver, from Philadelphia, had just been hired by the company a few weeks ago, the sergeant added.
Man charged in melee
A 26-year-old man faces a slew of charges after a bizarre chain of events that included him allegedly beating his girlfriend, stabbing a man in the chest four times and then holding a knife to his baby daughter’s throat and threatening to kill her, police said.
Meanwhile, four Fourth District Officers were commended for saving the day.
For the stabbing alone, Michael Galiano, 26, was charged with attempted murder, aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and possession of an instrument of crime, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
The melee unfolded Sunday around noon at Galiano’s house on the 900 block of Cantrell Street, the sergeant said.
Neighbors told police a fight with his girlfriend — the mother of his 3-year-old daughter — spilled outside, where the suspect began beating her. A 42-year-old man who tried to break up the altercation was stabbed in the chest by Galiano, Biello said. The victim was rushed into emergency surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition earlier this week, confirmed the sergeant.
Galiano then tried to use his daughter as a human shield and held a knife to her throat, threatening to kill her, officials said.
Fourth District Officers Marianne Galle, Elizer Gonzalez, Jason Hanna and Brian Fuss converged on the scene and instructed Galiano to drop the weapon and child. As the suspect tried to make a run for it, he threw the child — and luckily, Galle caught her, police said.
Pipe bomb causes damage
Investigators continue to search for the perpetrator who planted a pipe bomb on the hood of a 1992 Jeep Cherokee, wrecking havoc on the 900 block of Tasker Street.
The device detonated Sunday around 1:15 a.m., shattering the windows of two other cars parked on the block and damaging the windows of several homes, police said.
Earlier this week, detectives were still interviewing the owner of the Jeep, who originally told them he believed a man with whom he was having a dispute planted the explosive, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
The fire marshal declared the bomb an arson, the sergeant said.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Suspected groper grabbed
There was a new pedaling pervert on the loose, but all that may have changed Monday when police nabbed a suspect and charged him with at least one attack earlier that day at Second and Lombard streets.
Police are not releasing the suspect’s name because they believe he is responsible for eight groping incidents since last month, said Cpl. Jim Pauley of the Police Public Affairs Unit. The Special Victims Unit is in the process of establishing a photo lineup with all of the victims, the corporal said.
The 27-year-old suspect, who lives on the 2400 block of South Marshall Street, is Hispanic and does not speak English, police said.
After the suspect allegedly groped a woman at Second and Lombard, she was able to get a good-enough look at him and point him out to people at the Famous Fourth Street Deli, Fourth and Bainbridge, police said. Officer Tameeka Brown of South Street Detail chased the suspect for several blocks on her bike until she fell and injured her knee, Pauley said.
Other patrol officers caught the man on the 1300 block of South Columbus Boulevard.
For the attack at Second and Lombard, the suspect was charged with recklessly endangering another person, harassment and indecent assault, Pauley said.
Since last month and including Monday’s incident, there have been nine gropings in all — five of which have occurred in South Philly, said Lt. Tom McDevitt of the Special Victims Unit at a press conference last Friday night.
Locally, the incidents occurred July 5, 6:30 p.m. on the 300 block of South Juniper Street; July 20, 10 a.m. on the 1300 block of South Second Street; July 23, 9:45 a.m. on the 1700 block of East Moyamensing Avenue; Aug. 3, 6 p.m. on the 500 Fitzwater Street; and last Thursday, 10 a.m. on the 300 block of Queen Street.
McDevitt said he doesn’t think the latest suspect is the same man who indecently assaulted 12 women back in April and May. Some of those attacks happened in South Philly, but most occurred in Center City.
Police have made no arrest in that case, but the groper was described as a heavy-set white male in his 40s who would sometimes make obscene remarks as he fondled his victims.
To report information, call the Special Victims Unit at 215-685-1180/1181.
Drug bust cleans house
Narcotics Field Unit South officers cleaned up big — and locked up an alleged dealer — after serving a search-and-seizure warrant at his home on the 1500 block of Montrose Street, police said.
In the Aug. 5, 6 p.m. bust, police seized a Ruger 9 mm handgun loaded with nine live rounds, a 9 mm Browning with 14 rounds and an AK-47 assault rifle, said Capt. Dave Testa of Narcotics Field Unit South.
Corey Barlow, 27, was arrested and charged with firearms violations, possession, manufacturing and deliver, and possession of paraphernalia, the captain said.
Police also confiscated 246 grams of cocaine with a street value of $24,610, two bulletproof vests and $1,169, the captain said.
Sigel indicted for possession
On Aug. 6, a federal grand jury indicted Dwight Grant — better known as rap artist Beanie Sigel — on gun and drug charges stemming from a traffic stop in South Philly earlier this year.
Sigel was indicted on two counts: a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance, said Rich Manieri, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
If convicted, Sigel faces a maximum sentence of no less than 15 days imprisonment and no more than 12 years, a three-year period of supervised release and a $252,500 fine and special assessment of $200.
Police said the gun — a Mauser Model M2 .45-caliber semi-automatic loaded with nine live rounds — was stolen, and Sigel did not have a license to carry a weapon.
Two 17th District officers who made the April 20 traffic stop on the 1600 block of South 22nd Street allegedly witnessed Sigel discarding the weapon during the ensuing foot chase.
The rapper was finally nabbed on the 1800 block of South 20th Street. In addition to the gun, officers also found the suspect in possession of two 16-ounce bottles of cough medicine, 22 Xanax pills, 21 Percocet pills, 10 unknown white pills, and a small bag that later tested positive for marijuana, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Sigel has been detained without bail since feds swooped in and arrested him on the gun charge July 14. Earlier that day, the suspect had a preliminary hearing in district court for another case in which aggravated assault charges were reduced to simple assault.
