But someone knew their secret, and that person directed an army of Philadelphia police and federal agents late Wednesday to 5432 Windsor Ave.

Shortly before 11 p.m., police rammed the front door and set off a "flash-bang" device, startling the couple awake. In seconds, the house was swarming with law enforcement, and Floyd was forced to the floor, his face illuminated by a flashlight held by Homicide Capt. Daniel Castro.

"Eric Floyd, you are under arrest for the brutal homicide of one of our own, Sgt. Liczbinski," Castro recalled telling the career criminal.

The arrest ended a frenetic five-day manhunt for the third man wanted in the slaying of Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski, 39, who was killed Saturday in Port Richmond after he confronted three bank-robbery suspects.

Police said Floyd, 33, of North Philadelphia, had confessed to the robbery of the Bank of America branch inside a ShopRite on Aramingo Avenue, but denied shooting Liczbinski. Police said he had told them that he was surprised when his now-deceased accomplice shot the sergeant with a high-powered military rifle.

Nevertheless, Floyd was charged yesterday with murder, robbery and related offenses - the same charges lodged against the other surviving suspect, Levon T. Warner, 39, of West Philadelphia.

The third suspect, Howard Cain, 34, also of North Philadelphia, was killed Saturday by police trying to arrest him. At the time, Cain was holding the Chinese-made SKS carbine that police said had been used on Liczbinski.

Floyd was being held last night without bail.

Police said they still were searching for others who helped Floyd evade authorities.

More than $40,000 was taken during the heist, but the scheme - which included elaborate disguises and the use of a stolen Jeep to make a getaway - quickly unraveled after the three suspects left the bank about 11:30 a.m., according to authorities.

A few blocks away, police said, the men encountered Liczbinski, who was responding to a radio call. Police said he was shot with the SKS as he was exiting his vehicle, before he could fire his pistol.

In the aftermath, Cain was killed, Warner was apprehended, and Floyd was on the run. Also, police recovered all of the money, the robbers' discarded disguises, and three guns including the SKS. Most important, Warner allegedly confessed and implicated Floyd.

Poice gave this account of Floyd's efforts to avoid capture.

With the police in hot pursuit, Floyd, a convicted armed robber who escaped from a Berks County halfway house in February, called his girlfriend on his cell phone. He managed to get to her house in the city's Logan section.

They spent the night at a friend's house in North Philadelphia before moving on to another friend's house in South Philadelphia the next day.

An acquaintance suggested they hide out inside the rowhouse on Windsor Avenue, a home that the city had boarded up because of nonpayment of taxes.

Floyd remained hidden in the house, which has no running water or electricity, while Stephens shopped for food, Newport cigarettes and crack cocaine. Police said they still were investigating where the couple had obtained what little money they had on them.

Yesterday, Stephens, 37, was charged with obstruction of justice, hindering prosecution, and conspiracy. She was in custody last night awaiting arraignment.

Stephens, whose last known address was the 2100 block of Franklin Street, has a list of arrests in cases involving drug offenses, robbery and prostitution.

Authorities said she had told them that she hid Floyd despite a $150,000 reward on his head because she was in love with him.

"She never even considered turning him in," Homicide Sgt. Robert Wilkins said.

Police did not identify the tipster who had turned them in. But they did disclose that retired FBI agent Jesse Coleman had received the critical tip late Wednesday. The informant was attracted by the large reward.

Coleman passed the tipster along to an agent who had been with officers closing in on Southwest Philadelphia.

The raid was conducted by the Fugitive Task Force, the SWAT team, homicide detectives, and the FBI. Despite fears that Floyd had altered his appearance, he still wore a beard like the one shown in the mug shot broadcast during the manhunt.

Floyd was unarmed and did not resist, Castro said. He said Floyd was chilling.

"I peered into his eyes," he said. "He was cold, just cold, emotionless."

Following a police tradition, a wagon from the 24th District, where Liczbinski worked, was called in to transport the prisoner downtown.

Liczbinski's former partner, Sgt. Tim Simpson, placed the slain sergeant's handcuffs on Floyd.

Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey delivered the news of the arrest to Liczbinski's widow, Michele, who informed the sergeant's three children.

"You could just hear the relief in Mrs. Liczbinski's voice, and she told others who were in the house at the time that he was in custody, and there was a cheer that you could hear in the background when that happened," Ramsey said yesterday. "So it doesn't bring him back, but it's some measure of closure as we go into very difficult days today and tomorrow."

The commissioner delivered the handcuffs to Liczbinski's widow yesterday.

He said the symbolism of using the slain man's equipment was important.

"I think it brings a lot of comfort to the officers, and it's a way of paying tribute to the slain officer, and I'm glad we were able to do it," he said.

Crime-scene tape yesterday still cordoned off the two-story rowhouse on Windsor where Floyd and Stephens had hid out. Residents expressed relief that an unknown menace was gone.

"I was relieved," said Lois Clayton, 50, who lives nearby and was awakened during the raid. "It's a good thing."

Floyd and Stephens were taken to Police Headquarters early yesterday, where Mayor Nutter arrived at the same time and wasted no time confronting Floyd.

In an appearance yesterday at Lodge 5 of the Fraternal Order of Police, Nutter explained his desire to confront Floyd. He said he had felt "anger and disgust."

"I wanted to see the person who had done this," he said. "It's a disgrace."

He said a "serious message" needed to be sent.

"Stop shooting each other," Nutter pleaded. "Everyone may not have had a storybook childhood," he said, adding that a difficult upbringing was no excuse for killing another human being.

"Get over it," he said.

Liczbinski will be buried today after a noon Funeral Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.

Services Today for Slain Officer

Philadelphia Police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski, killed Saturday in the line of duty, will be laid to rest today.

Services will commence with a viewing beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, 18th Street and the Parkway, where a Funeral Mass will be said at noon. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, 5201 Hulmeville Rd., Bensalem.

The Police Department advises that the area surrounding the Cathedral Basilica will be congested between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., and that the funeral procession to Resurrection Cemetery will tie up traffic. Parts of Vine Street, the Vine Street Expressway, and I-95 from Center City to Bensalem will be closed while the cortege makes its way to the cemetery.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Stephen Liczbinski Family Memorial Trust Fund, 901 Arch St., Philadelphia 19107.

Go to www.philly.com for live coverage and streaming video of today's funeral for Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski.

Contributing to this article were Inquirer staff writers George Anastasia, Kia Gregory, Robert Moran, Peter Mucha, John Shiffman and Sam Wood.