Police: Philadelphia priest Maced, robbed while waiting for bus

Courtesy Philadelphia Police Department

Philadelphia Police released this photo of a suspect they believe robbed a priest on Wednesday afternoon.

Police in Philadelphia say a priest was sprayed with a chemical and robbed while waiting for a bus.

The Episcopalian priest was waiting for a public bus at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday when an unknown male approached. The attacker "sprayed him with some type of chemical spray" believed to be Mace, Philadelphia police officials said. It happened at 11th and Walnut Street in Philadelphia's Center City, according to NBCPhiladelphia.com.

Authorities say the attacker then reached into the 65-year-old priest's pants pocket, pulled out his money clip and robbed him of $125. 

After the attack, police say the suspect fled eastbound on Walnut Street. He was wearing all dark-colored clothing and a dark knit cap sleeve.


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The priest was transported to a hospital, where he was treated and released. His name was not released.

Philadelphia police are asking anyone with information about this crime or suspect to contact the city's Central Detective Division at 215-686-3093.

NBCPhiladelphia.com's Lauren DiSanto contributed to this report.

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Discuss this post

its the sh.t sock guy!!

  • 2 votes
Reply#1 - Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:49 PM EST

That gave me my belly laugh of the month... thank you.

Sorta' looks like the same guy who pushed that fella' in front of the train.

They all have something in common.... They... were... all...

...

...

Wearing dark clothes.

  • 4 votes
#1.1 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 6:24 AM EST
Reply

We need tighter mace gun control laws.

  • 3 votes
Reply#2 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 3:46 AM EST

Mace doesn't KILL. That's the difference. I suppose you think the priest should've been armed and shot the mugger dead.

    #2.1 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:06 AM EST

    That would have been nice Sam. Or would you have cried your little baby-eyes out because the nice Mr. mugger laid in a puddle of his own blood this close to Christmas? boo-hoo.

    • 1 vote
    #2.2 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:27 PM EST
    Reply

    what a brave black "man"..a priest...and they wonder why we hate and don't trust them....give them everything and still they steal from the whites....and this is not meant to be racist rant but this really make me mad....and i'm only 2hrs from philly...and i really don't like the city...

    • 5 votes
    Reply#3 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 8:35 AM EST

    Hey Mike:

    Who said the priest was white?

    • 1 vote
    #3.1 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:02 AM EST
    Reply

    Well Mike-67907; Your anger is understandable but let's try to keep things in perspective.

    It's not just black men in dark clothes that are committing misdeads, this transends race in my view.

    I'm pleased that the priest was not hurt physically aside from being sprayed.

    We just need to remain vigilant and be on guard for those who wish to do society harm. Cheers mate.

    • 2 votes
    Reply#4 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:27 AM EST

    Well said. This transcends race. My work with the public as a librarian in an urban area has shown me how good most people are. I can't tell you how many black men have demonstrated old school manners and respect toward me and others in public, on the bus, on the street, etc.

    • 2 votes
    #4.1 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:45 AM EST

    I had my pocket picked in Boston, Mass. some years ago, on busy Tremont Street, in broad daylight. I flagged down a passing police cruiser, told the cop what had happened, and he told me to get in the cruiser and that we'd drive around looking for him, as there was still a chance that he was in the area. The officer, (who was African American) asked me for the thief's description, and when I said "white", he replied with good humored, mock surprise, "White? WHITE? What's this world coming to???!!!"

    • 4 votes
    #4.2 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:56 AM EST
    Reply

    Race matters not when it comes to criminals. Somehow they seem to miss the point that society should be more polite, and since the criminals seem to get away with their misdeeds, they just continue their lifestyle. What would this crook have done had the priest turned around and hit him with a sock full of poop? Probably would have killed him. It's Philadelphia, folks. Get used to it. When monkeys are too crowded in a cage, they will fight each other for more personal space and take what the weaker monkeys have. It's also about being 'strong' and 'important'.

    • 2 votes
    Reply#5 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:50 AM EST

    Obviously we need to ban buses and bus stops. If this Priest hadn't been standing still waiting for a bus he wouldn't have been such an easy victim.

    • 3 votes
    Reply#6 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:01 AM EST

    Comments like yours and robtzu's above, which indirectly reference the partial ban on certain types of assault weapons that many would like to see in the wake of yet another mass shooting, are just plain stupid. No one is trying to ban all guns or forbid gun ownership, and you know it. "Obviously".

    • 4 votes
    #6.1 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:05 AM EST
    Reply

    where was god? why did he not intervine, and dispatch a lighting bolt to subdue this unholy person?

    • 2 votes
    Reply#7 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:08 AM EST

    Because he's getting ready for his boy's birthday party you dirty old heathen.

      #7.1 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 3:41 PM EST

      God couldn't saves his one and only son.....so what makes you think he gives a $hit about this old fart.

        #7.2 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:40 PM EST
        Reply

        It will be a little difficult to find him since he looks like 90% of all street thugs.

        • 4 votes
        Reply#8 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:11 AM EST

        as soon as i read philadelphia i knew the thug was a brother.

        • 2 votes
        Reply#9 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:23 AM EST

        Reading news stories about Philadelphia, it's hard to understand why anyone wants to live in this lawless jungle.

        • 4 votes
        Reply#10 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 10:39 AM EST

        Just look at that skin! Why am I not surprised. I made the assumption when I read the headline. Some things are so predictable. Oh, wait, I'm not supposed to say that. In lib-world there are no preconceived notions about people, except that conservatives are hateful, racist, homophobic, bigots. Why do they hate us? Is it because we're different?

        • 2 votes
        Reply#11 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:08 AM EST

        What the heck is a "cap sleeve"? Some sort of hood slang? Looks like a stocking cap to me.

        • 2 votes
        Reply#12 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:13 AM EST

        What? No hoodie? The guy is out of thug fashion.

        • 3 votes
        #12.1 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:26 AM EST
        Reply

        The headline is not good. I thought it was the priest who did the macing and robbing. Maybe it's just me...

        • 2 votes
        Reply#13 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:18 AM EST

        Dude was just trying to collect some of the gadzillion in evaded taxes the hypocrites owe the American people!

          Reply#14 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:50 AM EST

          Oh yeah. The entitlement and wealth re-distribution mentality encouraged by the folks in D.C. put into direct action.

            #14.1 - Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:59 AM EST
            Reply
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