BEREA, Ohio — The Berea Police Department is investigating two armed robberies that occurred on Labor Day between 8:35 p.m. and 8:49 p.m.
The first incident involved a female victim, Isabella Fredriksen, 19, of Berea, who was walking southbound on Seminary Street on the sidewalk. Fredriksen told police that between 8:35 p.m. and 8:39 p.m., she was in front of 132 Seminary Street when two Black males approached her around the corner from E. Grand Street and shoved her into the bushes, knocking her to the ground.
One of the males was described as taller, wearing all black and a mask. The other one is shorter, wearing a "colorful" jacket and a mask.
The shorter male reportedly told Fredriksen, "Give me all you have" while the taller male held a pistol to her head. Fredriksen stated the shorter male then emptied her pockets and removed her earbuds from her ears.
Responding officers were unable to find the suspects after searching the area.
The second incident occurred ten minutes later at approximately 8:49 p.m. in the Baldwin Wallace overflow student parking lot near Giant Eagle on W. Bridge Street.
The victim, Radhika Patel, 21, of Chagrin Falls, was sitting in her black 2016 Acura MDX in the parking lot on her iPhone when two Black male suspects approached the vehicle without her noticing. The suspects reportedly opened Patel's passenger side door, with one pointing a black handgun at her through the opened door, and stated "Get out or I will shoot you."
After repeatedly telling Patel to get out, the second male walked over to the driver side door and opened the door, again telling her to get out of the car. As Patel was exiting the car with her iPhone, the male on the driver side reportedly grabbed the phone from her and put it back in the vehicle.
Patel told police that the suspects did not appear to know how to operate the vehicle at first. The suspects then drove off in the vehicle heading eastbound on W. Center Street toward Front Street. Patel then went into the nearby Giant Eagle where a customer and several employees assisted her until responding officers arrived.
The suspect who opened the passenger door was estimated to be between 16 and 20 years old and was wearing a black hoodie with a red face mask. The suspect who opened the driver door was estimated at the same age, wearing a green camouflage hoodie, dark jogger pants, a colorful red face mask and was between 5'2" and 6'2" tall. Both suspects reportedly had their hoods up and masks on the entire time.
Inside the vehicle was Patel's iPhone 11, keys, bank cards, ID's, miscellaneous clothing and cash. The iPhone was pinged in the area of Baldwin Lake and the Millstream Run area, then pinged again prior to being shut off.
Both incidents are ongoing investigations.
