Displaying items by tag: akron police

Akron Police Chief Ken Ball is reporting that two suspects are in custody as of Friday morning, connected to the shooting along Copley Road Thursday afternoon that left a young girl injured. 

The first 911 call came in just after 1:15 p.m. Thursday regarding multiple shots fired from two different vechiles in the 1200 block of Copley Road. When police arrived the suspect vehicles were gone, but moments later another 911 call came in about a child that had been shot. That call was to a nearby home in the 900 block of Greenwood Avenue. 

There, officers and EMS found the six-year-old female victim with a single gunshot wound. She was taken to Akron Children's Hospital where she was rushed into surgery and as of Friday morning is still listed in critical condition. 

Detectives later determined that the child was in a car with five other kids and an adult driver and was caught in the crossfire during the shooting along Copley Road. One other child was injured after being grazed by a bullet, according to the APD report. 

Akron Police almost immediately identified the two suspects involved in the shooting and make arrests. Marqualle Clinkscales, 23, and Corey Jemison, 39, reportedly exchanged gunfire resulting in the two children being wounded. Clinkscales was arrested after a short pursuit not long after the shooting Thursday. Jemison was identified as the driver of one of the vehicles involved that was found disabled along Greenwood Avenue. He was arrested shortly after. 

Both men are charged with Felonious Assault and more.  

(Akron Police) Members of the Akron Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, along with the DEA, FBI, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Portage, Stark, Medina, and Mahoning Sheriff’s Offices, US Marshals, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and US Attorney’s Office, Justin Herdman, served search warrants and arrest warrants reference 19N023, Operation Vapor Trail.

In February of 2019, the Narcotics Unit initiated an investigation into Christopher Mitchell, 40, and his Vape Store, Dubba Bubbas, located at 1252 E Tallmadge in Akron. The investigation was launched after receiving a citizen complaint that Mitchell was selling marijuana, THC vapes, and THC edibles from the shop.

The investigation revealed Demarco Jones, 24, as one of Mitchell’s primary sources of supply. Jones, a former Akron resident, had taken up residence in Stark County. Jones’ illegal activities were found to stretch across Summit, Portage, Medina and Stark Counties.

In December of 2019, the investigation was adopted as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) case, sponsored by the DEA. The case was actively worked by the Narcotics Unit on a weekly, if not daily, basis.

On Thursday, September 4, 2020, the Task Force served three federal arrest warrants and eight search warrants in Summit and Stark Counties. Arrested on federal complaints were George May, 22, of Tallmadge, Tyrone Keith, 44, of Canton, and Demarco Jones, 24, of Canal Fulton. Also arrested on a state charge was DaShawn Jones, 45, of Kenmore.

“24-hours a day and 7 days a week law enforcement is hard at work to keep this community safe. This lengthy investigation is a great representation of that diligence. It also illustrates the power of collective effort and the meaningfulness of the shared work between the Akron Police Department and our federal partners. The suspects arrested in this operation are a threat to our community, as are the 18 guns, which were illegally possessed, and thousands of pounds of drugs. Thank you to the dedicated men and women that were responsible for these results” said Chief Kenneth Ball II.

“The defendants in this case allegedly went to great lengths to market, sell and transport marijuana and THC products, often designed to look like candies and cereals, to their customers in the Northern District and across the country,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “However, thanks to the hard work and partnership of numerous local, state and federal agencies, law enforcement agents were able to disrupt this drug trafficking operation and get significant quantities of marijuana product, illicit cash, and highpowered firearms off of our streets.

In all, 18 firearms, 774 lbs. of marijuana, 422 lbs. of edibles, 1143 lbs. of THC vapes, 203 lbs. of shatter/wax/dabs, and over $250,000 in U.S. currency was seized. Some of the edibles seized included children’s cereal that had been infused with liquid THC, repackaged, and sold, creating a substantial risk to unsuspecting children.

“This was a sophisticated operation operating in northern Ohio,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin. “There is a misconception going around that marijuana is a harmless drug and that is simply not true. Many of the edibles were packaged in a way that would be very appealing to children, bearing a striking and frightening resemblance to popular breakfast cereals, candy and snack foods.”

Akron Police announcing the arrest of 19-year-old Darius McGhee Wednesday night. 

According to the report, about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 2nd, officers pulled over McGhee, from Akron, near East Exchange Street and Arc Drive for an active warrant out of Barberton. 

When officers searched McGhee's vehicle they found 120 grams of marijuana and a digital scale in the car and a loaded shotgun and extra shells in the trunk. 

McGhee was arrested on site and booked in Summit County Jail on multiple weapons and drug charges. He will also face the initial charges out of Barberton.

Akron Police are continuing their efforts to keep the city safe and get illegal guns off the streets. 

With that, APD is reporting several arrests and the seizure of five guns in Akron over this past weekend. 

Friday afternoon, Akron Police officers stopped a car in the 1100 block of Palmetto Avenue. After a search of the vehicle and suspects, both the 32-year-old man and 16-year-old boy in the vehicle were in possession of handguns. Their case and investigation is still ongoing. 

About noon on Friday, police arrested 21-year-old Lamontae Shelton along Minota Avenue after he was stopped and caught hiding a gun under the front passenger seat. He was arrested and charged with Carrying a Concealed Weapon and more. 

Along West Market Street, juat about 2:15 p.m. Friday, police stopped a vehicle for suspicious activity and found two handguns and 22 grams of marijuana. Cordell Cobb, 18, was arrested and his passenger, 20-year-old Tyrus Toney was arrested and charged with illegally carrying a gun as well. 

Just hours after Mayor Dan Horrigan and Police Chief Ken Ball addressed citizens of Akron about the increase in deadly gun violence in the city over the course of this year, Akron logged its 34th homicide of 2020. 

Police were called to the area of Maryland Avenue and 5th Street Southwest, along the train tracks, about 5 p.m. Tuesday about a woman who was shot. There they found the yet unnamed 22-year-old woman dead from an apparent gunshot wound. Wednesday, the Summit County Medical Examiner confirmed the cause of death was in fact homicide. 

It is now mid-August and Akron has already surpassed 2019's total homicide count of 33. 

Earlier Tuesday, in a video posted to Facebook, Mayor Horrigan and Chief Ball talked about what efforts the city and the police force are making to curtail the violence. Watch that "community update" here now. 

"This cannot continue. We have to reverse this trend and interrupt the cycle of violence," Mayor Horrigan said. 

The homicide rate is up by 50 percent with the number of "shots fired" calls to police up by 25 percent, according to Chief Ball. He says that the department is taking a data-driven approach to the violence in the city, and focusing on individuals they know to be associated with recent gun violence and other criminal activity, as opposed to a sweeping approach. 

Another disturbing trend, as Chief Ball points out, is the number of young people involved in violent crime, both victims and suspects. "We haven't been able to quantify it yet, because it a statistic that hasn't been traced up to this point, but we are seeing many more 12, 13, and 14-year-olds being arrested with firearms," Chief Ball said. 

On the opposite end of that trend, the victims. Now five children have been killed in the city over the course of this year. Most recently, eight-year-old Mikayla Pickett was shot during a party at a home on Roselle Avenue just before midnight Friday, August 14th. At that same party, a 14-year-old girl was shot in the leg. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries. 

Akron Police say they have no suspects yet, but are narrowing their search based on interviews with people at the party that was mostly attended by teens. 

Akron Police cashed in on a routine traffic stop Wednesday afternoon near North Case Avenue and East Market Street. 

According to the report, officers stopped the vehicle for an equipment violation. When they approached the vehicle they smelled marijuana coming from inside. The driver, identified as 26-year-old Damiarie Davis admitted that he had recently smoked. 

Upon searching the vehicle, officers turned up a little more than seven grams of marijuana and more than $45,000 in cash. 

Davis was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and the cash was reportedly booked as evidence. He's awaiting a date in court. 

Akron Police Detectives are investigating a deadly shooting that left a one-year-old child dead and two adults injured. 

According to the APD report, the shooting happened around 9:30 Sunday night at a home in the 1200 block of 5th Avenue. When police arrived, they found the child, a man, and a woman all with gunshot wounds. 

All three victims were taken to Summa Akron City Hospital where the child later died. Both adults suffered gunshot wounds to their lower extremeties and are expected to fully recover. 

Since the shooting, police have released a photo of a vehicle they say was "possibly involved" in the shooting (pictured above), a black Dodge Ram pickup truck. Additionally, police say that there are two suspects that they are looking for. The investigation revealed that the two suspects got out of a vehicle and opened fire from the driveway of the home on 5th Avenue and then drove off. The two adult victims were reportedly both shot while getting out of their car. The baby was shot after several bullets struck the home.   

Anyone with information is asked to call Akron Police. 

(AKRON POLICE) - Detectives need your help identifying persons of interest wanted in connection to the Crouse St Homicides.

Officers responded to the 400 block of Crouse St around 10:00 AM on Sunday. When they got there, they found the victims, later identified as 43-year-old Horace Lee and 22-monthold daughter, Azeria Tucker, unresponsive outside of a home. The victims were pronounced dead on scene.

Investigators determined that Lee was pushing his daughter in a stroller on the sidewalk, when the suspect, driving the below listed vehicle, possibly a Cadillac Escalade, struck and killed the victims.

The three suspects in the (above) photograph are persons of interest wanted in connection to the victims’ deaths. The suspect wearing the hat with the letter "C" is believed to be wearing a motorcycle club vest with the "Afro Dog" insignia.

The three additional people in the below photograph are possible witnesses. Investigators would like to identify and speak with them concerning the incident.

The suspect vehicle (below) has noticeable ground effect lights underneath that may change colors.

Akron Police say Jaion Bivins, 18, the second suspect in the murder of Na'kia Crawford, is in custody after turning himself in just after midnight Tuesday morning. 

Bivins, of Akron, was wanted for more than a week on obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence charges connected to Na'kia's death back on Sunday, June 14th. 

At about 1:25 p.m. that Sunday the 14th, Na'kia was shot several times while she sat in her car next to her grandmother at a stop light near East North Street and North Howard Street in Akron. The alleged shooter, 17-year-old Adarus Black, remains at large, per Akron Police. He is charged with murder. 

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Black is asked to call Akron Police or the Summit County CrimeStoppers. 

A third suspect, 24-year-old Janisha George, turned herself in last Friday on obstruction charges. 

As of Friday morning, the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force is looking for Adarus Black, who is charged with murder in Na'kia's death. A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction, per that update from the U.S. Marshals. Also, per Akron Police, 24-year-old Janisha George has turned herself in to police. The whereabouts of Black and 18-year-old Jaion Bivins is still unknown, per APD. 

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Akron Police have issued arrest warrants for three individuals in connection to the murder of Na'kia Crawford, 18, from Akron on Sunday, June 14th, in the city. 

As of Thursday afternoon, a murder warrant for 17-year-old Adarus Black of Lakemore was signed. Police believe that Black was the suspect that pulled the trigger from inside of the black Chevy Camaro that was caught on surveillance camera around the time of the shooting, about 1:25 p.m. Sunday, at East North Street and North Howard Street. 

In addition to the murder warrant for Black, two other warrants were issued; one for Obstructing Justice and Tampering with Evidence for 18-year-old Jaion Bivins of Akron (pictured below). Another warrant for Janisha George, 24, of Tallmadge (pictured below), for Obstructing Justice.   

Multiple news outlets are reporting that police believe that the shooting was a case of mistaken identity, adding that they do not believe the suspects knew Na'kia. She was shot multiple times while sitting at a traffic light in her car with her grandmother who was unharmed. Initally after the shooting, there were reports that the suspect was a white male. Police never confirmed that they were looking for a white male in the case, only that they had received a tip saying it was a white male. Per their press release Thursday, Akron Police said, "Additionally, we have received information from our community that has been beneficial in creating a timeline of events." The department never released any official description of any suspect related to the case, only the photos and description of that suspect vehicle.  

Regarding the suspect vehicle, police say that at least one of the suspects has a connection to that Chevy Camaro, but they have not stated who the owner is. It was reportedly found abandoned in Cleveland and has since been transported back to Akron for processing. 

In a statement released shortly after all warrants were signed, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan released the following statement: 

“While nothing will ever bring Na’kia back, we hope that these pending arrests will bring some sense of justice to this grieving family. I thank the detectives and leadership of the Akron Police Department for their skilled investigative work and I strongly encourage the remaining suspects to contact the Akron Police Department to peacefully turn themselves in today.”

Na'kia had just recently graduated from Akron's North High School and had committed to attending Central State University starting this fall. She was pronounced dead at Summa Akron City Hospital less than 12 hours after she was shot Sunday afternoon. Since her death, a Na'kia Crawford Memorial Scholarship fund has been started in her honor. 

Akron Police, meanwhile, are asking the public's help finding Black, Bivins, and George, who they caution are considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490; or 330-375-2Tip, or the Summit County Crimestoppers Inc. at 330-434-COPS. You can also text TIPSCO with your tips to 274637 (Crimes). Callers can remain anonymous. Police add as a warning not to post any tips to public forums such as Facebook.