A Berks County deputy sheriff thwarted an armed robbery of cab driver, holding the suspect at gunpoint until Reading police arrived, authorities said Tuesday. Deputy Terry Ely happened upon the robbery when at 10th and Buttonwood streets about 4:25 p.m. Monday, city police said.
According to police:
The deputy was traveling west on Buttonwood when he came to a stop light at North 10th Street behind a Reading Metro Cab. The light turned green but the cab didn't move. After another red-green cycle, Ely turned over is his emergency lights and got out to see what was wrong.
He heard yelling from the cab and when he looked through the rear driver's side window he saw the passenger holding money in his left hand while pointing what appeared to be a semiautomatic handgun in his right hand at the driver's head.
Ely drew his own firearm and called Reading police dispatch. He ordered the suspect, Victor Martinez-Herrera, to drop the weapon, get out of the cab and on the ground.
Martinez-Herrera complied and officers arrived to take him into custody.
The gun turned out to be a pellet gun with the name "Ruger" on the handle. Ruger is a brand of firearm.
The gun had fiber optic sights that also gave the illusion that it was a real firearm.
Martinez-Herrera, 18, of the 1100 block of Buttonwood Street was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail after arraignment Monday night before Senior District Judge Paul J. Hadzick in Reading Central Court.
He faces charges of robbery and making terroristic threats.
Copyright 2016 Reading Eagle, Pa.
Tribune News Service
