Cops nab violent W. Philly fugitive
Robbery suspect Cartel Wright's alleged reign of terror ended yesterday, when cops and feds finally arrested him.
CARTEL WRIGHT ran, but he couldn't hide from a joint task force of U.S. Marshals, state parole officers and Philly police.
Wright, 49, was arrested early yesterday in an apartment on College Avenue near 21st Street in North Philly, said James Burke, supervising deputy for the U.S. Marshals in Philadelphia.
Authorities had been in pursuit of Wright for weeks after he allegedly committed a series of 13 violent robberies in West Philly, Delaware and Montgomery counties during a period of 10 months, including one that involved carjacking a 65-year-old man at gunpoint.
The trail heated up Monday, when Wright allegedly robbed a Walgreens on MacDade Boulevard in Glenolden, said Lt. John Walker, of Southwest Detectives.
Police discovered his exact location late Thursday and got ready to arrest him, making their move about 2 a.m. yesterday, Burke said.
When the members of the task force burst into the apartment, they found Wright hiding in a closet, Burke said.
Wright put up a fight, according to police, and was taken to Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital after complaining of chest pains.
He hadn't been formally arraigned as of last night, pending his release from the hospital, but will likely face charges for robbery, gun and related offenses, according to Walker.
Wright also will be charged with violating his parole in a previous robbery case, Burke said. The state Board of Probation and Parole had issued its own warrant for Wright's arrest after he began his latest string of robberies.