Cheltenham Police Say An Armed Robbery Suspect Had A Violent Tussle With Police

CHELTENHAM, PA — A city man is facing a host of felony and misdemeanor counts following his arrest in connection with the armed robbery of a Montgomery County drug store on Thanksgiving Day.

Ryan Boothe, 36, of Philadelphia's Ogontz neighborhood, has been charged with a total of 14 felonies and 12 misdemeanors in connection with the robbery of the Rite Aid store at 1401 West Cheltenham Avenue last week at around 6:10 in the evening.

According to the Cheltenham Township Police Department, officers had been dispatched to the store for a report of an armed robbery in progress, and, upon arrival, one officer saw an individual leaving the store that matched the description of the suspect.

When the officer approached the suspect, later identified as Boothe, a violent struggle ensued, and Boothe was ultimately taken into custody with the help of additional officers, according to police.

Officers found Boothe to be in possession of a fully loaded handgun, one that was later determined to have been stolen in a separate robbery in Philadelphia, police said.

Boothe was also allegedly found to be in possession of cash and other property that had been taken from Rite Aid during the course of the robbery.

Among the charges Boothe is facing are multiple counts of robbery, aggravated assault, persons not to possess firearms, resisting arrest, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and possessing instruments of crime.

Court records show that Magisterial District Judge John D. Kessler set bail at $1 million on Nov. 26 during Boothe's arraignment. Boothe was unable to post bail and was subsequently remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

Records show that a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 9 before Magisterial District Judge Christopher Cerski.