N. Philly woman faces prison for aiding suspect in officer's murder

A woman who helped one of Police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski's alleged killers hide from authorities for four days following the officer's May 3, 2008, fatal shooting now faces seven to 14 years in prison.

Tonya Stephens, 38, of the 3500 block of Park Ave. in North Philadelphia, was convicted of hindering the apprehension of a fugitive and criminal conspiracy following a June 30 waiver trial before Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Minehart. Minehart acquitted the woman of obstructing justice.

During the trial, Assistant District Attorney Mark Gilson detailed how Stephens helped her boyfriend, Eric Floyd, elude capture in the hours and days after he and two other men allegedly robbed a Port Richmond bank at gunpoint, then killed Liczbinski when the 24th Police District sergeant cornered them during their getaway.

Other police shot and killed one of Floyd's alleged accomplices, Howard Cain, and arrested the other, Levon Warner, both within minutes of the Liczbinski shooting. But Floyd, then 33, got away.

Stephens knew about the planned robbery and waited for Floyd at his North Philadelphia apartment during the crime, Gilson said.

The robbery occurred at about 11:30 a.m. at a Bank of America branch inside a ShopRite supermarket at 3547 Aramingo Ave. As the three men fled the store in a white Jeep Liberty, Liczbinski spotted them and pursued them in his patrol car.

The police sergeant closed in on the men at Almond and East Schiller streets, according to prior court testimony. When the Jeep stopped abruptly, Cain emerged from a passenger seat with a high-powered rifle pointed at Liczbinski. Cain fired repeatedly, wounding the officer multiple times. The Jeep then sped away, leaving Liczbinski lying in the street.

Liczbinski, a Burholme resident, husband and father of three, died from his wounds that afternoon at a local hospital.

Moments after the shooting, the men ditched the Jeep and split up. When police spotted Cain, he again raised his rifle and officers shot and killed him. Warner was on foot nearby when police caught him.

Floyd returned to his apartment after his escape and met Stephens, who took the fugitive to her home.

Later that day, Stephens and Floyd went to the home of a friend, where they spent the night. The following morning, another friend drove Floyd and Stephens to a vacant house on the 5400 block of Windsor St. in Southwest Philadelphia.

While Floyd remained out of sight there, Stephens went out to retrieve clothes and a TV and to buy food and drugs for the couple, according to Gilson, who cited a statement that the woman made to homicide detectives. The woman told investigators that she sold Floyd's computer to pay for the supplies.

Police tracked down the couple and arrested them on May 7, four days after the manhunt began.

Police also arrested the man who allegedly drove Floyd and Stephens to the Windsor Street home. Isaac Albright is awaiting trial on charges of obstructing justice, hindering apprehension and conspiracy.

Tacony man charged with abuse of corpse

By William Kenny

Times Staff Writer