Man admits to kidnapping, robbing man at gunpoint in Upper Moreland
NORRISTOWN — A Philadelphia man admitted that he kidnapped and robbed another man at gunpoint after he approached the victim who was sitting in his car during a work break outside an Upper Moreland Township business.
Edgar Joel Cruz, 23, of the 5000 block of Whitaker Avenue, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to charges of robbery, kidnapping and firearms not to be carried without a license in connection with the June 2023 incident.
Judge Thomas M. DelRicci deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigation report about Cruz, who will undergo drug, alcohol and mental health evaluations.
The open guilty plea means Cruz has no deals with prosecutors regarding his potential sentence and the judge will have sole discretion in determining the punishment.
Cruz remains free on $99,000 monetary bail, posted through a bonding company, pending sentencing. Cruz potentially faces more than a decade in prison on the charges.
The investigation began in the early morning hours of June 1, 2023, when Upper Moreland police received information about the kidnapping and robbery.
A 33-year-old man told police that he was sitting in his vehicle during a work break outside Acme Corrugated Box Company in the 2700 block of Turnpike Drive in Upper Moreland when Cruz, armed with a silver handgun, entered the rear driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle and instructed the victim to drive off, according to the criminal complaint filed by Upper Moreland Detective Mark Edward Bouldin.
While pointing the gun at the victim, Cruz demanded the victim’s cellphone, took the victim’s wallet and removed all of the cards from the wallet and tried to steal money from the victim while using a cellphone application, detectives alleged.
“Cruz then ordered the victim to drive to his residence in the Olney section of Philadelphia for additional money,” Bouldin alleged. “While forcing the victim to drive his vehicle to Philadelphia, Cruz held a gun to the victim’s neck. (The victim) stated he feared for his life during the entirety of this incident.”
After arriving at the victim’s residence, Cruz forced the victim inside and stole money from the purse of the victim’s mother, according to the arrest affidavit.
Detectives used video surveillance footage obtained from area businesses and residences to identify and track Cruz as he fled from the victim’s residence.
Cruz was apprehended by authorities on June 8, 2023, on Penn Street in Philadelphia and at that time he admitted to committing the robbery and kidnapping of the victim.
The investigation determined that Cruz had previously worked at Acme Corrugated Box Company. The weapon used by Cruz during the crime, identified as a Phoenix Arms .22-caliber pistol, was recovered by detectives, according to court documents.
By pleading guilty to the robbery charge, Cruz admitted that during the course of committing a theft he put another person in fear of immediate serious bodily injury.
Other charges of theft by unlawful taking, burglary and possessing a firearm with an altered serial number are slated to be dismissed against Cruz at time of sentencing.
Assistant District Attorney Robert Joseph Waeltz Jr. is handling the case. Defense lawyer Edward Joseph Foster represented Cruz during the court proceedings.
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