Halfway-house escapee, alleged serial robber hits Northwest Philly bank

The FBI and Philadelphia Police Department’s Violent Crimes Task Force are seeking the public’s assistance to locate Carl Goodwin, a fugitive believed to be responsible for the Tuesday robbery of the Citizens Bank branch at 6324 Stenton Ave. in West Oak Lane.

At approximately 12:15 p.m., a suspect believed to be Goodwin entered the bank and handed a teller a demand note. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, the robber ran off along Stenton Avenue.

Goodwin, of North Philadelphia, is the suspect in at least three other bank robberies in the past two weeks, including one in East Germantown on June 24 and another at the same Stenton Avenue branch four days earlier.

Goodwin is also suspected in the armed robbery of a Dunkin Donuts location at Broad Street and Germantown Ave.

He is currently facing charges related to escaping from a federal halfway house facility located in the city last month, according to investigators.

Beyond the recent pair of robberies, this bank branch has been targeted numerous times in recent months. Robberies have also been reported there in June 2012, January, April and June. In each case, a teller was handed a note, but the suspect descriptions vary.

Goodwin description

Authorities describe Goodwin, 27, as a 5-foot 10-inch tall, 150-pound man who is considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Violent Crimes Task Force at (215) 418-4000.

Police also ask anyone with information about the case, or suspects, to call the tipsline at (215) 686-TIPS, text a tip to PPD TIP (773847) or send it in via the department’s website.

Tipsters can remain anonymous and police said that here may be a reward for information leading to the suspect’s capture.