CLEVELAND — Cleveland police say they have arrested a suspect who may be connected with the case involving multiple robberies in which suspects are pulling people over while impersonating officers.
According to police, at about 9:20 Tuesday morning, investigators in the Second District spotted a Dodge Durango with dark, tinted windows, believed to possibly have been involved in an impersonation incident Sunday, as well as a brief police chase afterwards.
"We were able to pull some video and knew what kind of car we were looking for, and that led the investigators today to go ahead and identify the car, follow it here, and make an arrest," said Cleveland Division of Police Sergeant Jennifer Ciaccia.
Investigators proceeded to follow the car to a house on Worley Avenue, where the driver stopped the car, ran inside the home, and locked the door, according to police.
Police tell 3News it's believed the driver had been driving a woman and children in the car to that house. Police said the people inside the home told police they did not know the driver, but did know the woman who was with him.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force arrested the male suspect for an outstanding felony drug warrant and tampering with evidence, according to police.
The arrest comes after Cleveland police released several photos of suspect vehicles in the case.
3News spoke to Mariah Harding, who said her family lives at the house the suspect entered. She said she does know the driver, and said he was dropping off her son and her niece at the home. She said the driver is her brother's kid's mother's boyfriend.
"I trust him, I don't believe that he just got into this car and just starts acting like he's the police and just robbing people," Harding said. "No, that's not like him to do."
Harding said the person arrested had been driving a car he borrowed from a friend.
Cleveland police have previously warned drivers about five incidents that have occurred within the last few weeks. Pictures released by the department showed a black Dodge Durango with heavily tinted windows and a black Jeep Cherokee that are both believed to be involved in the most recent incident.
“The suspects are traveling in various vehicles, most times in an SUV, and are pulling motorists over while displaying red and blue strobe-type lights,” Cleveland police said. “Upon pulling over the victims, the suspects approach the victims with firearms and rob them of valuables and, in some instances, the victim’s vehicle was taken. In some of the robberies, the suspects brandished an AK-style rifle, along with other firearms.”
Here are all three suspect vehicle photos as released by the Cleveland Police Department:
Here's a timeline of when and where each incident occurred as provided by the Cleveland Division of Police:
- April 2 at approximately 6:20 p.m. in the area of Broadway Avenue and Blanche Avenue, a victim reported he was driving and was followed by a vehicle, which utilized police-type lights to attempt to pull him over. The victim further stated that the suspect brandished a firearm and was wearing a ballistic vest. The victim called 911 and remained on the line with dispatch as he drove to the Third District police station. While driving to the police station, the suspect vehicle went another direction. The suspect vehicle is described as a brand new Black Dodge Durango with heavily tinted windows and black vehicle accessories and temporary tags. A Black Jeep Cherokee also appeared to be involved.
- April 1 at approximately 3 a.m. in the 3000 block of West 48th Street, suspects driving a Kia Sportage displaying police emergency-type lights pulled over and robbed victims of property and a vehicle at gunpoint.
- March 31 at approximately 9:55 p.m. in the 3200 block of West 65th street, suspects driving a Volkswagen SUV displaying police emergency-type lights pulled over and robbed victims of property at gunpoint.
- March 28 at approximately 9:30 a.m. in the area of 152nd Street and Lakeshore Avenue, a male was approached and pulled over by suspects in a dark-colored Jeep Grand Cherokee displaying police emergency-type lights, and was then robbed at gunpoint.
- March 7 at 2:40 a.m. a male was traveling on Route 2 at West 45th Street exit when a vehicle displaying police emergency-type lights pulled him over, the suspects robbed him at gunpoint of his vehicle. The suspect vehicle in that incident was possibly a dark colored Honda Accord.
“It should be noted that these incidents are occurring only with private, unmarked vehicles,” police said. “No incidents have occurred with a marked police vehicle and there are no reports of stolen Cleveland police vehicles. Traffic stops conducted by police officers in marked vehicles, in uniform are not a part of this investigation.”
Drivers are being advised to call 911 if they are being pulled over by an unmarked vehicle or if they’re concerned about the legitimacy of the person who is stopping them.
Police are also asking for the public’s help with information in this case. Anybody with tips is asked to call 911. Anonymous information can be provided by calling Crime Stoppers at 216-25-CRIME.