Alleged Burdick's Robber Waives Hearing

A Hatboro man accused of robbing at gunpoint intends to fight the charges, according to his attorney.

Suliman Ali, 73, of Hunters Way in Hatboro, who police said is also known as Stanley Roberts, on Thursday afternoon waived his preliminary hearing before Hatboro District Judge Paul Leo. 

Ali has been behind bars since his arrest last month in connection with his alleged armed robbery of the store on Jan. 27. His bail will remain at $250,000, officials said. 

Ali's attorney, Eugene Tinari told Patch that his client has no intention of entering a guilty plea. 

"We're intending to continue to fight this case," Tinari said, adding that he would "challenge every aspect of the Commonwealth's case."

Video surveillance that obtained moments after the robbery shows a black man who police determined to be Ali riding away from the scene of the robbery on a mountain bike. 

Tinari would not say if Ali was in the area at the time of the crime, only that he planned to contest the charges.

Ali, who police said has an extensive criminal record for crimes including robbery, aggravated assault and kidnapping, faces various charges including theft by unlawful taking or disposition; theft by extortion; receiving stolen property; terroristic threats; simple assault; recklessly endangering another person; persons not to possess firearms; and carrying a firearm without a license.

According to the criminal complaint against Ali, he is accused of pointing a gun in a Burdick's customer's back, while ordering the store's owner to "gimme all the money." Ali is alleged to have then forced the victims to the rear of the store before fleeing on a bike. 

In the criminal complaint, police said that Hatboro residents who provided tips on the condition of anonymity, had told them within days of the robbery that a man named "Ali" who owns a bike matched the description of the subject in the video stills released to press. 

Police discovered a silver bike similar to the one allegedly used following the robbery in the common area behind Ali's Hunters Way home, according to court documents. 

Upon executing a search warrant, police found other items of evidence including cash, a Taurus .38 caliber revolver, a pair of black fingerless gloves, a Magna LX-2 mountain bike and a blue nylon backpack, according to the complaint. 

Ali is scheduled to be arraigned on July 18.