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Despite a $150,000 reward on her boyfriend's head for the murder of a Philadelphia police officer, the girlfriend of Eric DeShawn Floyd concealed the fugitive for five days and did not consider ratting him out.
"It was love," said homicide Sgt. Robert Wilkins, who said that Floyd's girlfriend of two months had confessed.
Tonya Lynne Stephens, 37, whose last known address was the 2100 block of Franklin Street, was charged this afternoon with obstruction of justice, hindering prosecution, and conspiracy, according to the District Attorney's Office. Police said Stephens has a list of 16 prior arrests that include drug offenses, robbery and prostitution.
Police said Stephens spent the last three days with Floyd in a boarded-up Kingsessing rowhouse, relieving themselves in a bucket, while she ventured outside to shop for food and Newport cigarettes.
"She went out and did the errands while he stayed in the house," said Wilkins. "She never even considered turning him in."
Retired FBI Agent Jesse Coleman received a critical tip last night that led to Floyd's arrest at 5432 Windsor Ave.
In quick order, Philadelphia police and federal agents breached the front door of the house shortly before 11 p.m. using a "noise flash distraction device," said Capt. Daniel Castro, who was the incident commander at the scene. Floyd, 33, and Stephens, who apparently had been sleeping, were found upstairs in the front bedroom.
Floyd's arrest ended a frenetic manhunt for the third man wanted in the slaying of Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski. Floyd quietly went with police after authorities raided the home.
Floyd confessed that he was one of the three men who robbed a Port Richmond bank on Saturday, but told police he was surprised when his now-deceased accomplice fatally shot Liczbinski, authorities said this morning.
"He was tired of running," said Wilkins. "But even he knew it was just a matter of time."
Floyd's girlfriend, who is from North Philadelphia, faces a long list of charges, including harboring a fugitive, police said.
Investigators believed early on that Floyd was with his girlfriend. They had interviewed her sister and had strong reason to believe that he was with her.
Police say they are still searching for others who may have helped hide Floyd.
Liczbinski was shot while pursuing three men, including Floyd, after a bank was robbed inside a Port Richmond ShopRite. Howard Cain, 34, was killed by police after he allegedly used a high-powered SKS rifle to shoot Liczbinski. Levon T. Warner, 39, was arrested after Saturday's chase.
Crime-scene tape cordoned off the two-story, middle-of-the-block rowhouse on Windsor Avenue this morning, as investigators stood by a police van parked outside.
Castro described the arrest last night. He said Floyd was unarmed and did not resist.
The house, boarded up by the city, had no running water or electricity. Castro stood over Floyd, holding a flashlight so that it illuminated both their faces.
"I pierced into his eyes," he said. "He was cold, just cold, emotionless."
Following a police tradition, a wagon from 24th District where Liczbinski worked was called in to transport the prisoner downtown. Liczbinski's partner, Sgt. Tim Simpson, placed the slain sergeant's handcuffs on Floyd.
As they were applying the bracelets, Castro said he pronounced: "Eric Floyd, you are under arrest for the brutal homicide of one of our own, Sgt. Liczbinski."
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