By Jane Prendergast
Enquirer staff writer

COVEDALE - Cincinnati police nabbed a suspected mugger with a little help from two passers-by, detectives from Green Township and two paramedics on their way back from the hospital.

Robert Obrecht, 76, using a cane, was walking to the store and was in front of the Covedale Performing Arts Center on Glenway Avenue about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday when a man ran up to him, knocked him down and snatched his wallet, which held a $5 bill and a check for $5 written to CVS.

Two men passing by saw the mugging and started to chase the robber, who jumped into a dark blue Buick parked up the street, said police investigator Mike Roth. That's when Cincinnati paramedics Chris Leicht and Tony Morano were driving by in Rescue 24 on their way back from Mercy Hospital Western Hills. They got the license plate number and called police.

"The (robber) loses them, obviously," Roth said, "because they were in an ambulance.''

When police broadcast the description to other officers, two Green Township detectives in the neighborhood on their own case heard it. In about 15 minutes of Obrecht's attack, they spotted a Buick on Dewey Avenue in Price Hill and told Cincinnati where to find it.

Officers responded and arrested Rodney Whitfield, 20, on a robbery charge. He remained behind bars in Hamilton County Thursday.

"It's neat - you don't get these every day where citizens get so involved," said Roth. "The average citizen was just paying attention. It's nice."

E-mail jprendergast@enquirer.com