Tom Cloud, a retired Pennsylvania State Police sergeant turned private investigator, saw the guy pull a knife on a storeowner during a robbery in May. Without hesitation, he pretty much body-slammed the guy into the counter, disarming him.
And when the guy fled out of the convenience store at 22nd and Christian streets in South Philadelphia, Cloud — who was the well-known head state police investigator for the notorious Johnston brothers of Chester County case back in the 1970s — ran after him, aiding in the eventual arrest by two Philadelphia police officers.
Talk about being in the right place at the right time, and knowing exactly what to do.
Cloud, of Bethel, couldn’t say how long it had been since he chased anyone like that, but it had to be at least since he retired from the state police 15 years ago. Good for Cloud that he keeps in shape.
A bicyclist, he rides 5,000 miles a year. It helped him shed 100 pounds since his days with the state police. It also helps him to raise money for a worthy cause: Cancer research.
Just mentioning that he participates in Team in Training, which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, was all it took to see how passionate he is about the organization and its mission. With all of the advances in treating cancer, Cloud said who wouldn’t be happy to know that their efforts are helping to save lives of those batting blood cancers now and for generations to come.
Cloud was meeting Joseph Nangle, another retired trooper who now works for him at Cloud, Feehery & Richter Professional Investigations, for a cup of coffee at the Dunkin’ Donuts in Aston. Friends since the early 1970s, they both got a good laugh at the stereotype — you know the one, Nangle said, about cops and doughnuts.
A resident of West Grove in Chester County, Nangle grew up in Ridley. Diane, Nangle’s wife of 40 years, is the sister of Darby Township police Detective Scott Dickson. She is waging a battle against multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells in bone marrow.
Like her husband, she is grateful for Cloud’s efforts, and his eagerness to raise cancer awareness.Nangle, who spent 26 years with the state police, joined Cloud at the firm he co-owns with two retired FBI agents, in 2002.
Cloud and Nagle reminisced a bit about their days with the state police, serving both at the Media and Avondale barracks.
“I do miss being a trooper,” Cloud said. “I loved it. It was fulfilling.”
Cloud was eager to be back in court last week to testify against the man in the store holdup. The defendant was held for court.
“That was the first holdup for that store owner in 24 years,” he noted.
Cloud said what he liked most about the state police job was the ability to see a case through to the end. He felt that way about the holdup case, but speaking as a civilian.
Conversation then turned to the notorious Johnstons. Talk about a case he was glad to see through to the end.
Assigned to the Avondale barracks, Cloud was a part of the team that helped put an end to the stranglehold elusive killers David, Norman and Bruce Johnston Sr. had on Chester County during the 1970s.
The grisly story was made into a movie starring Sean Penn, Christopher Walken and Mary Stuart Masterson called, “At Close Range.” Authorities had said the killings were carried out to prevent snitching.
Cloud’s current partner, retired FBI Agent Dave Richter, was also a part of that successful team.
