Off-Duty Cop Helps Nab Robbery Suspect

An off-duty police officer becomes a hero when he puts a stop to a robbery in Northeast Philadelphia. Police say the robber is responsible for a series of other crimes.

Fox 29's Robin Taylor spoke with the lieutenant about his heroic effort.

Lt. Andrew Napoli was with his wife and daughter and their new puppy. They were in the waiting room at Radbill Animal Hospital when a man came in who looked suspicious.

"When he goes right into the treatment area, opens up another door and goes right into the treatment area and shuts the door behind him. So I actually looked at my wife and said, 'What's that all about?'" recounts Lt. Andrew Napoli of Philadelphia Police Marine Unit.

The man walked into the front office and demanded money. Veterinarian Steven Radbill says his vet tech told the robber she had cash in her purse. She reached down and pulled out a gun. At first the robber, who had two box cutters, wouldn't back down.

"He came closer and then she said 'I will shoot you and then she screamed 'Get out of here,'" says Dr. Radbill.

"All of a sudden, I hear her start yelling 'Help me, help me. I'm being robbed. Get out of here' or something to that affect and I hear all kinds of things breaking,” says Lt. Napoli.

Lt. Napoli jumped to his feet and stood in the way as the suspect came charging out the door.

"When I came out, they were wrestling right here,” says Dr. Radbill.

Lt. Napoli struggled with the robber until he finally brought him down in front of a full waiting room of people.

"Being on the job for 20 plus years, my instinct took over. I just did what I would have done if I was on duty,” says Lt. Napoli.

Lt. Napoli held 46-year-old David Minarczyk until police arrived. It turns out Minarczyk was wanted for three other armed robberies at CVS stores. The veterinarian is thankful everyone handled themselves the way they did.

"She didn't panic or scream so no one else got injured and it was great timing he was here and quickly took control of the situation,” says Dr. Radbill.

Police say the suspect was robbing to support his drug habit. They say he probably picked the vet's clinic because he thought it would be an easy target.