Accused cop killer identified as career criminal
Police officials earlier today identified Rasheed Scrugs as the man who fatally shot Officer John Pawlowski in Logan last night.
Accused cop killer identified as career criminal
Police officials earlier today identified Rasheed Scrugs as the man who fatally shot Officer John Pawlowski in Logan last night.
Scrugs, who also goes by the name Rasheed Abdul Ghaffer, allegedly wounded Pawlowski, 25, several times at Broad and Olney streets at about 8:20 p.m. Scrugs, who was wounded when he exchanged gunfire with Pawlowski's partner and another cop, is still listed in critical condition at Albert Einstein Medical Center.
Scrugs has a criminal history that includes nine arrests, said Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman. In 1997, Scrugs was sentenced to five to 10 years in state prison for robbing a West Philadelphia diner at gunpoint.
He was released on parole in August 2002, but was sent back to prison on a parole violation in December 2004, Vanore said.
Scrugs was released from prison again in February 2008. Several months later, he was arrested on auto theft charges, Vanore said. That case is still unresolved.
A clearer picture emerged today of Friday's fatal encounter, which made Pawlowski the seventh Philadelphia police officer to get killed in the line of duty since May 2006.
Scrugs assaulted a hack cab driver and demanded his money, prompting the cabbie to call 9-1-1, Vanore said.
Scrugs warned the cabbie that he would kill the cops and the cabbie if the call was made, according to Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey.
When Pawlowski and his partner, Officer Mark Klein, arrived at the scene, they told Scrugs to remove his hands from his pockets. Instead, he pulled the trigger of his .357 magnum and fired off a round while the gun was still in his jacket pocket, Vanore said.
Pawlowski, a five-year veteran, was wounded several times. "He was wearing his [bullet-proof] vest. The vest stopped one of the rounds, but not all," Vanore said.
Pawlowski managed to fire one round at Scrugs before collapsing on the ground. Klein and another cop, Officer Steven Mancuso, also exchanged gunfire with Scrugs. "It's not clear who exactly wounded the suspect," Vanore said.
All three officers worked in the 35th District, the same district where Officer Chuck Cassidy was gunned down on Oct. 31, 2007. Pawlowski died at Einstein at about 8:44 p.m.
Pawlowski, whose father is a retired police lieutenant and whose brother, Cpl. Robert Pawlowski, was working in the police radio room last night, was recently married. His wife, Kim, is five months pregnant. Vanore said the couple were in the process of fixing up their first home together.
"It's a dangerous job," Vanore noted. "The question everybody is asking now is, when does this stop?"
UPDATE 2/16: "Two months pregnant" corrected to "five months pregnant."
Comments (70)
Comment removed.
"CleanupPhilly" for Mayor!! I like and agree with everything you say. Well said-- all your posts.— Chr- Truly this is NOT a Democrat/Republican issue if you morons get over the fact that there is a Democratic black president in office then maybe other important things can be handled. Crime happens with the Republicans in the seat or did you forget....I feel sorry for the cop and his family this is horrible and as for the criminal surviving the surgeons did their job first and reacted second....I hope this criminal gets just is coming to his behind and believe me he will...so leave the politics out of it and pray for the whole entire world because it is only going to get worst as long as people keep finger pointing and releasing these repeat offenders....God bless the family and may God have mercy on the officers soul....but please grow up and leave the Democrats alone.— daddysgirl
- People like Scruggs cannot be rehabilitated, bottom line! And to the people posting here that North Philly should be blown up,please keep in mind that the community where these scum bags live are held hostage by these people as well. Just because these people aren't as fortunate as you and I to live in a nice area doesn't mean they should be thought of as supporters of this trash, they in fact are victims themselves constantly watching their backs for something as simple as waiting for a bus!— noignoranceaccepted
- tr88 are you not impressed he converted to islam and grew a beard I know Im not. I guess since they released this animals picture all the race baiters and mini jesse's and sharpton owe us an apology. Turns out we were right he was black and convert to the religion of peace. who would have ever guessed that?— gigawho
- as a formerly convicted person,I know the crime could not had happened if the illegal gun was not there.Our state elected official should be held responsible as well.They care more about building new prisons then stopping illegal guns and saving lives. xce— xce
- Comment removed.
- I so agree with terrid... Piece of trash is a career criminal, gets wounded while killing a police officer, yet it is our tax dollars that are keeping this scumbag alive. Pull the plug on him.— in between on issues
- Vermin like Scruggs should not be fed, housed, and clothed on the taxpayers' dime. There is a simple solution: fry him in the chair.— There He Is
- xce guns dont kill people low life murdering thugs do. Why in the world do you want a government of men to be allowed to control you like sheep. Not until society proves to these animals this kind of behavior will be dealt with severe and swift justice will it end. Is it the guns fault the guy who had it was breaking 1 or more of the 20,000 laws already on the books. I bet you would have better results outlawing rap music.— gigawho
- daddysgirl, you elude to the idea that this crumb will get what's coming to him in jail. sorry kid but that ain't so. on the inside he will get a heroes welcome as a cop-killer. he will be respected and revered. he will be the king of the joint. young people in there will look up to him as a successful role model. BIZZARO WORLD. sorry but it's true.— scorpio27
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- God bless and protect our police officers.— New Media Survivor
- Comment removed.
Popular Posts
Search this blog:
Blog Roll
Classifieds:
Site Services:
Partners: