Suspect In Cherry Hill Attempted Kidnappings Arrested: Police

CHERRY HILL, NJ — The man suspected of attempting to kidnap two women in Cherry Hill and of an attempted gunpoint robbery in Pennsylvania has been arrested, police said.

Kent William Powe, 58, of Philadelphia, was arrested Thursday morning outside a home on the 200 block of Jackson Avenue in Collingdale, Delaware County, Lower Merion Township police said in partnership with Cherry Hill police.

Authorities executed search warrants on Powe's home on the 2000 block of Redfield Street in Philadelphia, the Jackson Avenue residence, and his vehicle. The search turned up a handgun and clothes that matched what was worn in the incident at 6:55 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4 in the Royal Athena Apartment Complex at 600 Righters Ferry Road in Bala Cynwyd.

During that incident, Powe is accused of following a woman into an elevator, putting a gun to her back, and saying "you know what this is." The woman ran from the elevator and the suspect, believed to be Powe, fled the area in a Nissan Altima with its license plate covered up. Read more here: Cherry Hill Attempted Kidnapper Sought In 2 States

In Lower Merion, Powe has been charged with felony attempted kidnapping, felony robbery, felony violation of the uniform firearms act, possession of an instrument of a crime and false imprisonment.

Powe is accused of trying to kidnap women in Cherry Hill on Nov. 14 and Nov. 20. The Cherry Hill Police Department's investigation into the two similar incidents that occurred in their jurisdiction is ongoing.

Police first reported they were looking for the man on Nov. 21. At that time, police reported that the man attempted to kidnap a woman who was walking in a parking garage in the Plaza Grande Apartments on Park Boulevard at about 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 20.

In that incident, he robbed her at gunpoint and attempted to force her into the trunk of his car, but she managed to escape, police said. Read more here: Man Robbed, Tried To Kidnap Woman At Cherry Hill Apartments: PD

Police said that a similar incident happened in the same apartment complex on Nov. 14. At about 7 p.m. that night, a woman was approached by a man in the unit block of Pacer Court, police said.

The man tried to start a conversation with her before he suddenly pushed her to the ground, police said. The woman screamed, and the man took off in a dark-colored sedan that may have had a loud muffler, according to police. Read more here: Cherry Hill Police Release Sketch Of Man In Attempted Kidnappings

He was held after failing to post $1 million bail and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 18.

Lower Merion Police Department thanked the Cherry Hill, Philadelphia, and Collingdale police departments for their assistance in this investigation.

Story by Max Bennett, Patch Staff