Norristown man convicted of armed robbery of undercover trooper during drug investigation

NORRISTOWN — A Norristown man was convicted of robbery and weapons charges in connection with the gunpoint holdup of an undercover state police trooper during a drug investigation in the borough.

Elijah Omar Jordan, 28, of the 1200 block of West Washington Street, was convicted in Montgomery County Court of charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, person not to possess a firearm and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance in connection with the May 29, 2024, incident during which he pointed a gun at the abdomen of an undercover trooper who was posing as a methamphetamine buyer.

Judge Wendy G. Rothstein convicted Jordan of the charges during a nonjury trial after Jordan stipulated to certain facts contained in an affidavit of probable cause.

Rothstein deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigation report about Jordan, who faces a possible maximum sentence of 12 to 24 years in prison on the charges.

Bobby Lee Tillman Jr., 29, of the 4500 block of North Gratz Street, Philadelphia, Jordan’s alleged conspirator in the plot, chose to go to trial on identical charges.

On Friday, Jordan, whom Tillman wanted to call as a defense witness, told Judge Rothstein, out of earshot of the jury, that he asserted his Fifth Amendment right under the U.S. Constitution to remain silent and would not testify at Tillman’s trial.

Jordan would not comment to a reporter about his decision as he was escorted from the courtroom by law enforcement officers for his return to jail, where he is being held pending his sentencing hearing.

Later, after several delays, the judge ruled Tillman’s jury trial wouldn’t resume until Monday, citing a medical emergency, after which Tillman was taken for treatment. Specific details about the emergency were not revealed and no one connected with the case would comment about it.

Defense lawyer William Harry Highland III then asked that Tillman’s bail be revoked, arguing, “He’s demonstrated to the court he’s making efforts to avoid participating or appearing at trial.”

Defense lawyer Paul Jared Mallis did not take a position on the prosecution’s bail revocation request. Rothstein then revoked Tillman’s bail.

Rothstein also ordered that Tillman’s phone and computer privileges at the jail be revoked, pending trial.

According to trial testimony and court documents, the undercover trooper was involved in an ongoing narcotics investigation with the goal of making a purchase of two pounds of methamphetamine from a man known as “H,” the primary target of the investigation who was later identified as Dominic Tyrek White, 33, of Philadelphia, for about $3,200.

White, who is still awaiting court action on drug-related charges, allegedly agreed to meet the undercover trooper posing as the buyer at about 2 p.m. on May 29, 2024, in the area of the 300 block of Hamilton Street in Norristown.

However, when the undercover trooper got to the area, he was met by Tillman and Jordan, Highland and co-prosecutor Libby Ann Hemler alleged. Tillman told the trooper they were “H’s people,” according to testimony.

When the undercover trooper showed the men the cash and asked to see the drugs, Tillman allegedly walked away from the trooper’s vehicle and returned a short time later with a white grocery-style bag that turned out to be empty.

Authorities alleged that while Tillman was counting the buy money, Jordan brandished a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the abdomen of the undercover trooper and instructed him to leave the area.

“I’m scared at this point. I know he doesn’t have to be a great marksman to end my life,” the undercover trooper testified, referring to Jordan.

At the time, Tillman allegedly stated to the trooper, “It’s not personal,” according to testimony.

No shots were fired during the incident that suddenly turned chaotic. Jurors watched video surveillance footage that captured part of the interaction between the trooper and the men.

Other members of law enforcement, including FBI agents, who had the area under surveillance, converged on the location and Jordan and Tillman fled on foot.

Pursuing officers caught up to Jordan a few blocks away and observed him dispose of a handgun, a Glock 19, loaded with 18 rounds of ammunition and an extended magazine, underneath a vehicle, according to testimony.

The Glock also had a so-called “switch,” a conversion device that allows a semiautomatic weapon to become fully automatic, similar to a machine gun.

Officers who pursued Tillman observed him flee toward an alley off West Lafayette Street, where he jumped over a fence. Police found a loaded Smith & Wesson revolver at the location where Tillman jumped the fence, according to testimony.

Tillman was taken into custody a short time later.

During her opening statement to jurors at Tillman’s trial, Hemler argued the incident represented “an undercover cop’s worst nightmare.”

During his opening statement to jurors, Mallis argued that prosecutors do not have sufficient evidence that Tillman agreed to commit a robbery.