PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Police say two women and a teenager are now in custody, weeks after officials say they assaulted a school crossing guard. Investigators credit the public for helping identify and locate the people involved.
"I couldn't believe that they would do this to someone who's out there trying to protect children every day of the week," said Capt. Frank Banford, who says the two women were taken into custody Wednesday.
Police say 26-year-old Imani Thomas, 18-year-old Destiny Sanders, and an unidentified 15-year-old girl — who surrendered to police shortly after the two other suspects — are accused of attacking a 29-year-old crossing guard who was working near 28th and Cecil B. Moore Avenue in North Philly after the school day ended on Nov. 30.
"One of the students went up to the crossing guard and said, 'Can I use your phone? Could I call my mother? I was just assaulted.' So the crossing guard, being kind-hearted, gives her her telephone," Banford said.
That may have angered the suspects, according to Banford.
"Three individuals approach the crossing guard. She tries to get on the bus to get away. They drag her off of the bus, drag her to the ground, start beating her, punching her, kicking her," he said. "Boots to the face, I mean, kicks all over the body. Punches. It went on for a couple minutes, it was horrible."
The crossing guard was taken to a hospital and was treated for a nose injury, bruising on her head and face, and injuries to her hand and leg.
Police say tips from the public helped them identify the suspects.
