Gunpoint Robber Caught After Trying to Flee, Cops Say

A 31-year-old Collingdale resident allegedly robbed three women at gunpoint and attempted to flee from officers before being subdued with Tasers, police said.

Aleem Barley was charged with multiple counts of robbery and aggravated and simple assault after police said he robbed three women at gunpoint on Sunday.

The West Chester Police Department received a report of an armed robbery on Sunday shortly before 2:30 a.m., in the vicinity of Church and Chestnut streets.

A man pointed a handgun at the three women and chambered a round, according to the victims' report.  Police said he took their purses and left the area on foot.

Within 30 seconds of the report, police said that an officer saw a white vehicle driving quickly away from the area of the robbery.

The officer made contact with the vehicle and had it pull over in a parking lot at the intersection of Church and Chestnut streets.

Barley got out of his vehicle. but refused to listen to verbal commands given to him by the officer, according to police.

Barley then got back into his vehicle and backed it into the marked police car, according to police, and then pulled forward and struck a parked car.  Police said that he then fled from the parking lot.

Police then cornered Barley in a parking lot behind the YMCA.  In another attempt to escape, police said that Barley then struck another police vehicle and another parked car. 

Police then took Barley into custody with the use of Tasers. 

The robbery victims identified Barley as the man who robbed them, according to police, who said they found a black semi-automatic handgun and the victims’ property on the floor of the vehicle Barley had been driving. 

Barley is currently being held in Chester County Prison with bail set at $100,000.