Three Teenagers Accused of Burglarizing Lakewood Home
One of the suspects — 19-year-old Joshua Freeman — was out on bond for trafficking and weapons charges at the time of the burglary.
Lakewood Police Department arrested a trio of teenagers accused of burglarizing a home in the 1200 block of Andrews Avenue.
The homeowner returned to his house at about noon on Monday, saw three strangers loading their minivan with his possessions and called police, Lakewood Police Chief Tim Malley said.
The teens tried to flee but they were stopped and arrested by police.
All three of the suspects are from Cleveland. A pair of them are 17-year-old boys who are being charged as juveniles. The third is 19-year-old Joshua Freeman.
At the time of the burglary, Freeman was already out on bond while facing weapons and drug trafficking charges, according to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas web site.
All three suspects face charges of aggravated burglary, possession of criminal tools, obstruction of official business, criminal damaging and failure to comply.
Freeman also faces a charge of providing false information to a police officer.
The 17-year-old who drove the minivan is also charged with hit-skip and reckless operation.
Malley credited the victim for calling the police instead of trying to confront the suspects by himself, which might have been dangerous.
"When the victim pulled into his driveway and saw them, he called the police," Malley said. "He didn't confront them -- even though he may have wanted to -- and that was the best thing he could do."
Patch reader
11:32 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Good job LPD.
Darrin Gaking
1:01 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Many prayers to those who live where the PD can't help as quickly. Thanks LPD!
ian king
9:18 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Scary! I wish we had more police patrolling the streets of Lakewood. Anyone who walks our city's blocks see suspicious looking folks on a daily basis. Riding bikes, patrolling on motorcycles is the way to deter crime. Patrol cars are nice, but lets also think outside the box and have a more visible person to person patrol on the streets of Lakewood. I know I would feel much safer when I walk both day and night the streets of Lakewood. BTW, Good job to the officers involved in this robbery!
ian king
9:18 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Scary! I wish we had more police patrolling the streets of Lakewood. Anyone who walks our city's blocks see suspicious looking folks on a daily basis. Riding bikes, patrolling on motorcycles is the way to deter crime. Patrol cars are nice, but lets also think outside the box and have a more visible person to person patrol on the streets of Lakewood. I know I would feel much safer when I walk both day and night the streets of Lakewood. BTW, Good job to the officers involved in this robbery!
Kim N
2:25 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013
Good work LPD