Police arrest suspect in Sled murder case

Eugene Harrison was pulled over for driving a stolen car, but police recognized him from photos taken at a MAC machine. Police arrested 32-year-old Eugene Harrison shortly before noon yesterday for the murder of Medical Center research associate Vladimir Sled, Homicide Inspector Jerry Kane said. A male fatally stabbed Sled while robbing Cecelia Hagerhall, Sled's fiancee, on the 4300 block of Larchwood Avenue at 11:15 p.m. October 31. The District Attorney's office charged Harrison last night with murder, robbery, assault and other counts related to Sled's homicide. Legally, anyone who participates in a crime that results in death can be convicted of murder -- even if he did not actually commit the murder. Police have also identified several other suspects who they believe assisted Harrison, said University Police Chief of Operations Maureen Rush. "No doubt tomorrow a lot more will unfold," she said last night. "There will definitely be more arrests? depending on how quickly [police] work tonight." Officers from Philadelphia Police's Southwest Detectives spotted Harrison driving a stolen car on the 4800 block of Market Street yesterday and arrested him after a brief chase, Kane said. Harrison lives on the 5200 block of Arch Street. The officers did not have an arrest warrant for Harrison in connection with Sled's murder, instead stopping him for driving the stolen car. He was also charged with several counts related to the car theft. Police believe Harrison snatched Hagerhall's purse, but have not yet determined if he also stabbed Sled when the researcher tried to prevent the robbery, Kane explained. Last Friday, police released three photographs of a suspect taken by a Money Access Center (MAC) machine at 57th and Vine Streets as he tried to use Hagerhall's bank card about two hours after the murder. Detectives identified Harrison earlier this week after several dozen people said they recognized him from the MAC pictures, Kane said. The homicide unit had asked Southwest Detectives officers working in West Philadelphia to be on the lookout for Harrison earlier this week, he added. The suspects left behind a trail of bank and credit card records that has helped police in the case. MAC records show that someone also tried to use Hagerhall's bank card at 1:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. And someone used her credit cards at gas stations and convenience stores eight times that morning, leaving behind two signed receipts. They charged chips and soda during one stop and tanks of gas for multiple cars at different gas stations, ending the shopping spree when the cards were cancelled. University Investigators Bill Danks, Pat Brennan, Joe Hasara and Frank DeMeo -- all former Philadelphia detectives -- have been assisting the city's homicide unit with the case. The investigators are reviewing surveillance videotapes from several gas stations where suspects used Hagerhall's credit cards hours after the murder, Brennan said. They hope the D.A.'s office can use clips of the suspects in a criminal trial, she added.

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