Police nab man suspected in robbery, beating of Korean-American business owner

POLICE HAVE NABBED one of seven men allegedly involved in a violent home invasion and robbery of a Korean-American businessman and his wife at their Oxford Circle home in March.

Lt. John Walker, of Southwest Detectives, said Thursday that Rashion Michaels, 21, of Callowhill Street near 61st, in West Philly, was arrested Wednesday and charged.

Michaels faces $1 million bail and charges of aggravated assault, robbery, conspiracy, firearms and related offenses in the March 18 attack. A home surveillance video trained on the couple's back driveway and information from the public led police to Michaels, Walker said.

The video showed six thugs wearing hooded sweatshirts ambushing the couple after they arrived in their driveway, then forcing them into their home on McKinley Street near Castor Avenue. A seventh assailant - said to be Michaels - then appeared in the driveway but did not go inside.

The robbers, some armed, stole about $30,000 from the couple and beat the husband inside.

Walker said it is believed that the robbers targeted the couple because they are Asian and were thought to have cash at home.

He said that Michaels was previously charged and found guilty as a juvenile in a robbery at the couple's West Philly beer distributorship a few years ago.

- Julie Shaw