An elderly man who police say posed as a flower deliveryman and then tasered a homeowner appeared in court today.
On November 7, police say the man arrived at a home in the Villanova section of Radnor Township. The homeowner told police he opened the door and was greeted by the suspect, later identified as 76-year-old John Felder, of Miami, Florida. Felder allegedly claimed he was a deliveryman and had flowers in his hand. Police say the homeowner took the flowers and Felder went back into his van, leaving the area.
A few minutes later, Felder returned to the home, according to investigators. Police say Felder told the homeowner that a greeting card had fallen out inside his van and he wanted to return it. Felder then allegedly pulled out a Taser and fired the weapon into the homeowner’s chest. Police say the homeowner managed to shut the door, causing the Taser probes to disconnect. Felder went back into his van and fled the area, according to investigators.
Police checked the area where Felder’s van was parked and say they found zip ties and tape that are often used in home invasion robberies. Police say they discovered that the flowers Felder had were purchased at a local flower shop. They were able to identify Felder through a parking ticket he got while ordering the flowers back on November 5, according to investigators.
Police caught Felder while he was allegedly trying to buy a firearm at a gun show in the Pocono Mountains back on November 10. Felder told police he planned to abduct the homeowner and hold him for ransom, according to investigators. Police also say the victim was only one of several wealthy CFOs he was targeting. He was taken back to Delaware County where he was arraigned with bail being affixed at $175,000. Felder, a father of five and grandfather of 14, was unable to post bail and was remanded to the Delaware County Prison. He appeared in court today at 1 p.m. for a preliminary arraignment. The judge denied a request from Felder's attorney for a bail reduction.
