SOLON, Ohio — A Solon Police officer fired multiple shots at a suspect as he exited a stolen car after a police pursuit that briefly caused a nearby school to lockdown Thursday morning, police said. The suspect was not struck and was arrested after a foot chase.
Police were alerted to the presence of a stolen vehicle by an automated license plate reader at about 10:31 a.m., according to a news release from Solon Police. Officers learned the vehicle was taken in an aggravated robbery on April 4. Officers tried to stop a Honda minivan that was reported stolen from Cleveland
Officers tried to stop the van, and a chase ensued, with the stolen vehicle and officers traveling south on SOM Center Road, west on Arthur Road, then north on Solon Boulevard, the release states. The stolen van then crashed into the rear of another vehicle near Roxbury Elementary School.
The driver then exited the stolen vehicle with a gun in his hand, police said. The officer fired “more than once towards the suspect,” Solon Police said, but the suspect was not struck.
“We do not know if the suspect fired any shots, but he was armed with a loaded handgun,” said an official with the department.
The suspect fled on foot through some backyards, dropping the gun in the grass. After a foot chase that lasted about 45 seconds, he surrendered, police said.
According to police, the suspect's gun was a semi-automatic .40 caliber Glock loaded with 22 bullets in the extended magazine and the chamber.
Police said there were some minor injuries to the driver and passenger of the vehicle that was struck.
Roxbury Elementary was placed into lockdown after the crash for about six minutes, police said. Solon Boulevard was closed while the Ohio BCI assisted in the investigation, which lasted through the end of the school day.
The officer is currently on paid administrative leave.
Solon Police arrested a 16-year-old boy from Cleveland as the only suspect involved in the stolen vehicle chase on the following charges: suspicion of receiving stolen property, improper handling of a firearm, fleeing and eluding, aggravated menacing and carrying concealed weapons.
He was transferred to the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center on Thursday afternoon, and a formal determination of charges will be made by that agency, police said.
The investigation into this incident remains open, according to Solon Police. BCI will support the investigation and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office will continue the investigation. Solon Police will also conduct an internal investigation of policy and procedures as more facts are established.
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