Woman stabbed in SEPTA elevator

Woman knifed in train elevator

A woman had a scary elevator ride at a SEPTA train station in Kensington early Saturday when a man tried to rob her at knifepoint, police said.

At about 1:30 a.m., the 30-year-old woman was in an elevator at the Huntingdon Station, at 2600 Kensington Ave., at the Market-Frankford Line when the man got into the elevator with her, police said.

The man pulled out what looked like a kitchen knife and said, "Give me the money," then stabbed the victim in the left shoulder and left leg as he tried to fleece her pockets, said Officer Tanya Little, a police spokeswoman.

The woman crawled out of the elevator when it stopped, and she screamed for help. She was treated at Temple University Hospital's Episcopal Campus for stab wounds and was listed in stable condition.

The robber ran off without taking anything from the woman, Little said. He was described as a black man in his late 30s, about 5-foot-8, medium build, with a light beard, and wearing a dark jacket, black pants, and a gray skullcap. - Julie Shaw

Teen: 'I know who stabbed me'

A 15-year-old boy, stabbed around 11:30 p.m. Friday in South Philadelphia, told police that a 16-year-old boy he knows was the one who stabbed him.

Officers responding to a report of "a person with a weapon" on the 2500 block of South Third Street found the victim with stab wounds to his right shoulder and lower back, police said. Police took him to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he received several stitches and was listed in stable condition.

Officer Tanya Little, a police spokeswoman, said the motive of the stabbing was unknown. - Julie Shaw

Doctor charged with growing pot

A Northeast Philadelphia pediatrician has been accused of growing marijuana out of his Bucks County home.

Jan Neil Widerman, 65, who has an office at 10800 Bustleton Ave. in Somerton, faces felony charges of manufacture with intent to deliver drugs and misdemeanor marijuana-possession charges.

The Bucks County Courier Times and CBS3 have reported that Widerman's alleged growing operation was discovered by firefighters who went to his house on the unit block of Brookside Drive in Holland two weeks ago to battle a fire that started in a pickup truck in the driveway and spread into the nearby garage.

Court records indicate Widerman has been released on unsecured bond and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 31.

Widerman's lawyer, Louis Busico, said his client, who also treats adults with drug addiction, "has dedicated his entire life to helping and healing tens of thousands of people. We intend to fight the case vigorously." - Julie Shaw

Phila. police hurt in crash

A Philadelphia police sergeant crashed his cruiser into a utility pole in the Wynnefield section early Saturday after swerving to avoid what appeared to be an animal in the road, a police spokeswoman said.

It was about 2:30 a.m. when the sergeant, who was responding to a call to assist another officer, crashed into the pole on the 2100 block of Bryn Mawr Avenue, Officer Tanya Little said. His name was not released.

The sergeant, of the 19th District in West Philadelphia, was admitted to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center with a head injury. His police vehicle sustained heavy front-end damage. - Julie Shaw

Suspect in S.J. murder nabbed

A Pennsauken man has been arrested in the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old man, authorities said Saturday.

Isaiah Pascall, 23, of Pennsauken, is charged with first-degree murder in last week's shooting death of Joshua Simmons, also of Pennsauken, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office announced Saturday.

The shooting happened about 8:30 p.m. Monday after a fight on the unit block of Russell Avenue in Merchantville, Camden County, authorities said.

Police found Simmons lying on the sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to Kennedy University Hospital in Cherry Hill, where he died soon after.

Pascall was arrested and charged Friday night after being questioned by detectives at the prosecutor's office. He was in custody at the Camden County Jail. - Julie Shaw