Three Charged in Lower Pottsgrove Bank Robbery

Three men were arraigned Thursday and charged with a long list of offenses following an alleged Wednesday robbery at the National Penn Bank on High Street. 

According to the Pottstown Mercury, the alleged bank robbers were identified as 27-year old Ishaq Ibrahim and 25-year-old James A. Byrd, both of Philadelphia, and 31-year-old Kelani Laird.

The three were apprehended after a chase that began in Lower Pottsgrove and ended in Lower Merion Township. Villanova University and Rosemont College were locked down for a time on Wednesday afternoon as police searched for a possible fourth suspect, who authorities later said probably didn't exist.

Police said that two of the three men entered the bank with weapons and demanded money, then drove away with the third man in a silver sedan. The trio reportedly ditched the vehicle in Lower Merion before being arrested.

Court records show the the three were charged with a number of charges. Each faces multiple counts of robbery, assault, conspiracy, theft and reckless endangerment.

All three had bail set at $1 million by Magisterial District Judge Edward C. Kropp, Sr. and face another hearing on July 11.