Christian, who had been arrested 33 times and charged in seven murders when he made the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List in 1973, was stopped by uniformed police officers from the 17th Police District about 6:50 p.m. Wednesday, said the source, who requested anonymity.
Christian and two companions, Rosalyn Reaves, 27, and Bridget Reaves, 21, both of the 1500 block of Dickinson Street in South Philadelphia, were stopped on the street near the women's home, police said.
Christian, 51, had nine vials of crack cocaine but no identification, the source said. He was taken to the Police Administration Building, where he gave his name as Samuel Beyah.
He was fingerprinted and records were checked to see whether a Samuel Beyah was wanted by authorities or had an arrest record. Civilians in the Identification Unit checked his fingerprints against those on file, but failed to find a match.
The suspect was arraigned and released on his own recognizance.
After he left the Police Administration Building, his fingerprints were checked a second time, and police learned that Samuel Beyah was Samuel Christian, according to the source.
The source said Christian, who gave an address on Landon Avenue in Syracuse, N.Y., would have been held had police known his true identity
because drug-possession charges would represent a violation of his parole.
The suspect was charged with knowingly and intentionally possessing a controlled substance. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on the charge Aug. 2 at City Hall.
Rosalyn Reaves was charged with knowingly and intentionally possessing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and conspiracy; she posted 10 percent of a $7,500 bond. Bridget Reaves was charged with the same violations and posted 10 percent of a $5,000 bond. They are scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing Friday at City Hall.
