CLEVELAND (WJW) – Cleveland police detectives are asking for the public’s help to identify a group of teenage suspects who have been terrorizing residents on the city’s near west side in a rash of violent carjackings and armed robberies.
One of the most recent crimes, which was caught on surveillance cameras, was committed on Sunday night outside the Edison at Gordon Square apartment building on Father Caruso Drive in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood.
A resident reported that three teens armed with guns jumped out of a van and demanded his wallet and the keys to his pickup truck.
The victim complied and the suspects got into his truck and sped away.
Investigators say the gunmen are part of a group of teens who have committed a string of carjackings and robberies that have shaken residents in Detroit-Shoreway, Ohio City and Edgewater.
For many of the residents, the nature of the carjacking on Sunday struck a raw nerve.
“First off, we love this neighborhood. I’ve been here for ten years. I don’t ever want to leave but when you see this stuff on a daily basis and it’s becoming increasingly more violent and more often, it’s absolutely terrifying and the city needs to do something about it,” said one homeowner who didn’t want to be identified.
On Monday, police spotted the stolen pickup along Woodland Avenue near East 66th Street, and as officers approached, they reported that 13 juveniles bailed out of the cab and bed of the truck and then ran through the surrounding neighborhood.
According to the police report, the pickup, with no one behind wheel, continued to roll for several blocks before coming to a stop.
The officers noted that most, if not all, of the 13 teens were clearly armed with guns and that some of them were reaching for the weapons as they fled.
“It tells me that this is an organized group of people that are doing this and they’re creating havoc in the city. It’s just terrifying that we have to live with this,” said the concerned homeowner.
In response to the violent carjacking, Cleveland Ward 15 Councilmember Jenny Spencer issued a statement that reads:
“The carjacking that occurred at 9 p.m. on Sunday, March 24 on Father Caruso Drive is unacceptable and should not have occurred. Fortunately, the building managers of the apartment complex were able to act quickly and provided camera footage to 2nd District Police detectives. It is my understanding that at least one suspect has already been apprehended, and the car jacked vehicle was recovered. The Cleveland Police Violent Crime Reduction Task Force is actively pursuing other suspects. I’m grateful to our officers and VCRT for their quick action and service to our neighborhoods. I’ll continue to work with residents and building managers in Ward 15 to ensure that we’re doing everything possible to deter crime.”
Meanwhile, Clevelanders impacted by the carjacking and the spate of other crimes on the near west side have a message for city hall.
“To the city of Cleveland, you’re losing us. You’re going to let good people walk away from the city, who put money into the city, because of progressive policies that aren’t working. We need more cops, we need to be tougher on crime, it’s gotten out of control,” said the resident.
Anyone who can help identify the teen suspects is asked to call CPD Second District detectives at 216-623-2760.
Jack Shea
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