Crime & Safety
Man Kidnaps Woman at Knifepoint in Falls
A 27-year-old New Jersey man was arrested after he held a woman at knifepoint Sunday afternoon in the Morrisville section of Falls Township.
A man with a “scruffy” beard is alleged to have kidnapped a woman Sunday afternoon at knifepoint afternoon in the Morrisville section of Falls Township, police said.
The incident all started outside the Centre Fruit Gourmet at 364 West Trenton Road and ended with the suspect being arrested at the TD Bank just down the street.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Anthony Povia, 27, of Hamilton, N.J., got into the victim's car at at the fruit shop and pulled a large kitchen knife and asked, “ I want the money. Don’t make me hurt you.”
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Povia then forced the victim to drive to an ATM to withdraw money. The victim drove to the Wells Fargo on West Trenton Avenue, where she had trouble withdrawing cash. The 27-year-old man then demanded the victim use her cell phone to call people and to get money. She told Povia that no one who she called would just give her money, according to court records.
The victim told police that Povia held her under threat of the kitchen knife for nearly 30 minutes before he took her cell phone and left her vehicle. Povia told the victim he was taking her phone so she could not call the police, the affidavit states.
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The woman fled to the 7-Eleven on West Trenton Avenue and used the store’s phone to contact police, who responded at 1:39 p.m.
Within 4 minutes of responding, witnesses reported seeing a “suspicious person” - later identified as Povia - at the TD Bank on at 346 West Trenton Avenue. Police units swooped in arrested the alleged kidnapper. The victim later positively identified the Povia as the man who held her at knife point, court records show.
During an interview at police headquarters, Povia admitted to investigators he got into the victim’s car with a knife and demanded cash. He told police he has a heroin habit and needed the money to “score,” according to the affidavit.
Povia remains in county jail on 10 percent of $250,000 bail and charges of kidnapping for ransom, robbery, unlawful restraint, theft and several other related offenses.
