BUCKS COUNTY, Penn. (WWJ) - A pair of Michigan truck drivers were charged this week for the 2022 robbery of a Pennsylvania comic book store that left the business owner brutally beaten.
As reported by the Daily Voice, Caleb Simpson, 35, and Zackery Tucker, 22, both of Michigan were arraigned on Monday (March 18) on charges of robbery, aggravated assault, unlawful restraint and more for their alleged involvement in the violent crime over a year and a half ago in the Feasterville section of Lower Southampton Township, roughly 30 minutes northeast of Philadelphia.
According to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, the pair entered Comic Collection just before 5 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2022 with one suspect wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt while the other was wearing a red "Deadpool" t-shirt.
The two men approached the 61-year-old store owner and asked for help with a product. The suspects waited until the owner was up on a ladder to retrieve the item when they knocked him off, the DA's office said.
When the victim fell to the ground, officials said he was beaten and tied up with zip ties.
The suspect in the black hoodie repeatedly punched the 61-year-old in the face with brass knuckles before pulling out a knife and threatening to kill him.
After the attack, the two men took out duffle bags from a backpack and stuffed them with a laptop, cash, comic books, Pokémon cards, actions figures and other items, police claimed.
Officers responded to the scene and the men fled, leaving the duffle bag filled with stolen merchandise in nearby woods.
The victim was found still tied up and badly injured at the scene. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was treated for multiple contusions, lacerations and broken ribs, authorities added.
Investigators were able to recover clothing the suspects wore as well as the stolen times in the surrounding area with the clothing sent to the Pennsylvania State Police crime lab for processing.
While reviewing store surveillance footage, one of the suspects removed his hat and sweater to reveal a forearm tattoo that went from his wrist to his elbow.
But the case stalled and for over a year, no new breaks were made until December 19, 2023 when a detective with the Lower Southampton Police Department got a tip that truck drivers Simpson and Tucker were responsible for the comic book store robbery.
The DA's officer said Simpson was arrested in Michigan for trying to steal a gun less than a month after the crime in Pennsylvania. Michigan police sent over photos of Simpson with another individual identified as Tucker.
Both men matched the descriptions of the comic store robbers. authorities said.
Another big break came after the state lab completed their analysis of the clothing collected the night of the robbery that connected Simpson to the scene.
Simpson is in custody in Michigan and will be extradited to Pennsylvania. Tucker is currently lodged at the Bucks County Correctional Facility under $300,000 bail, 10%.
