One of our brothers has lost his children

[Samantha]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/47906312.html?page=2&...


Though Rodriguez was also wanted for arrest for failing to appear for a court appearance, the circumstances of his case are hardly unusual in a court system awash in cases involving murder and other violent crimes.

Rodriguez, who lived alone in the 4100 block of North Eighth Street in Hunting Park, was arrested May 7 on charges of illegally possessing parts to a stolen car. He posted $2,500 bail and was free pending trial. He was to have had a preliminary hearing on June 2, but never showed up and the judge issued a bench warrant.

Police allege that Cradock and Rodriguez accosted a motorcyclist at gunpoint at 7:29 p.m. Wednesday in the 5400 block of Rising Sun Avenue in Olney. Rodriguez fled on the motorcycle, and Cradock in the Pontiac.

Moments later, at C Street and Roosevelt Boulevard, a traffic officer, tipped by a motorist, began discretely following the Pontiac until traffic stopped at a red light at Third Street, police said. As the officer got out of his car, Cradock apparently spotted him, and sped south on Third.

The officer returned to his patrol car and drove south on Third looking for the Pontiac. He arrived at the accident scene a few minutes later.

Cradock, along with a .357 Magnum revolver, was in the wreckage of the car, wedged between a house and a utility pole.

Near the car were four people who had been hit.

Latoya Smith, 22, died early Thursday of her injuries, and her daughter, Remedy Smith, 1, died Wednesday night shortly after arriving at the hospital. Aaliyah Griffin, 6, a relative of Smith's, and Gina Marie Rosario, 7, a neighbor's daughter, were dead at the scene, pinned under the wrecked car.