Standoff with armed robber at Media store ends peacefully
The suspect, identified as Kwesi Hudson, of Wilmington, forced two employees inside a bathroom as he tried to make his getaway.
A nearly two-hour police standoff with a robbery suspect at a Delaware County CVS store ended peacefully Wednesday night, but not until after the bandit forced two frightened employees into a bathroom at gunpoint.
The gunman, dressed in black, with a hooded sweatshirt and a black ski mask covering his face, entered the store at 295 E. Baltimore Ave. in Media, forced an employee to give him cash from a register, then ordered the two workers to stay inside the bathroom, the Media Borough Police Department said Thursday.
One of the employees was able to call 911, and police rushed to the store at 9:49 p.m., before the robber could get away. He tried to leave through the back and front doors, but was met by officers at both and retreated inside, hiding in an upstairs storage area, police said.
The Central Delco Tactical Response SWAT unit was called to the scene, and negotiations began for the gunman to surrender, police said. During that time, officers who went inside the store found the employees in the bathroom and rescued them.
The robber eventually surrendered to officers without incident, police said. A gun was recovered and the money was returned.
The suspect was identified as Kwesi Hudson, 46, of Wilmington. He was arraigned Thursday morning on charges of robbery, kidnapping, and related offenses. He faces a June 5 preliminary hearing.
The store employees were frightened but not injured, police said.
A corporate spokesman for CVS Health said in a statement: "We are grateful for the fast response of law enforcement and that no one was harmed last night. We are offering counseling services to any store employees as a result of this incident."