Well-known Cleveland activist arrested, facing extortion charge

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CLEVELAND (WJW) – A well-known Cleveland activist was arrested Wednesday on an extortion charge after a local business owner accused him of demanding money for protection.

Antoine Tolbert is now being held in the Cuyahoga County jail and is expected in court soon to face the felony charge.

Rubin Swift, one of the owners of the gas station, said Tolbert and members of Tolbert’s organization New Era Cleveland started showing up at the Lee and Harvard business two weeks ago.

“Some of them had masks on,” Swift said. “Some carrying weapons. They terrified our employees and customers. We do not want them here. We did not ask them to be here. They took over.”

According to the arrest warrant filed in court by Cleveland police, the owner of the gas station told officers Tolbert demanded to be hired as security and said if they weren’t hired, they would shut down the store.

“It was like a Russian takeover,” Swift said. “They kept coming back.”

Swift said they called police numerous times asking for help.

Swift said Tolbert and other members of the group showed up again this weekend. He said other members of the group came back to the gas station Wednesday after Tolbert was arrested and continued to threaten them.

“They told us to call and get the charges dropped or they will be here every day,” Swift said.

Police tell the FOX 8 I-Team they are continuing to investigate.

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Peggy Gallek

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