June 24, 2016
Source/SEPTA
SEPTA bus driver Charles Arterbury boards his bus after helping apprehend a man who allegedly snatched a purse from a woman at 29th Street and Girard Avenue.
A veteran SEPTA bus operator rushed out of his bus and chased down a man who allegedly snatched a purse from a woman in Philly's Brewerytown neighborhood early Monday morning.
Surveillance video captured part of driver Charles Arterbury's heroic act.
The grainy video depicts a man approaching a woman at the corner of 29th Street and Girard Avenue. He then grabs her purse and attempts to flee the scene. Arterbury then flees the bus followed by two other SEPTA passengers.
Arterbury said he ran after the man for less than a block before he brought him down and subdued him. The two passengers helped hold the suspect until Philadelphia Police arrived and arrested him.
The alleged perpetrator, Norman Jennings, 56, of Philadelphia, was arrested by Philadelphia police and charged with robbery, theft, assault and related offenses, SEPTA officials said.
Arterbury, a 28-year SEPTA veteran, said he simply reacted. Now, he's being hailed as a hero.
"My son is sending me Captain America stuff," Arterbury said. "My wife is thankful. I'm just glad it's over and everybody's safe. I'm glad the guy got caught and everybody went on about their business."
The victim was very thankful, Arterbury said.
"I even saw her later on that day going home," he said. "She thanked me again. I said, 'No problem, I'm just glad you're all right.'"
SEPTA bus driver Charles Arterbury describes how he fled his bus to chase after a man who allegedly snatched a woman's purse early Monday morning.
John Kopp/PhillyVoice
SEPTA Capt. Charles Lawson praised Arterbury's courage and bravery while acknowledging that such conduct is not required of SEPTA operators. They simply are asked to put themselves in a position to get a good description of a criminal.
"Police officers are trained and equipped – and they swear an oath to put themselves in this type of danger," Lawson said. "Civilians do not. But what Mr. Arterbury did was extremely brave and directly brought this to a successful conclusion."
Arterbury said he half-expected to be reprimanded for abandoning his vehicle, noting some of his co-workers told him he should not have done it.
"Sometimes the right thing is not the right thing," Arterbury said. "I couldn't look myself in the mirror to see somebody who needs help, and you're able to help them, and not do it. I wasn't raised that way."
Upon re-entering the bus, Arterbury's passengers gave him a round of applause. He said they were still asking him about it on Tuesday.
"But gratefully, Wednesday is all a normal routine now," Arterbury said. "I like that."
