Cleveland police arrest 3 teens accused of car break-ins on city’s West Side

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland police arrested three teenagers late Wednesday night and accused them of breaking into several cars on the city's West Side.

The arrests marked the second time in a week that officers nabbed youths rifling through vehicles. In both instances, the suspects drove stolen cars as they preyed on victims and later fled from authorities, police said.

The youths apprehended Wednesday night were charged with felonious assault, felony fleeing, failure to comply, criminal damaging and weapons violations.

Cleveland detectives had been investigating a wave of break-ins reported in the Battery Park, Ohio City and the Shoreway areas. At 11:30 p.m., officers received reports of more thefts at a parking lot in the 1900 block of West 25th Street.

When authorities arrived, they saw a stolen orange Kia and attempted to stop it. Police said the driver fled, leading officers on a chase.

Officers later tracked the Kia to a gas station on East 105th Street and St. Clair Avenue. A 14-year-old driver ran from the car and went inside the gas station, police said. Investigators said they arrested the youth and recovered a gun from inside the business.

While officers were in the gas station, a passenger in the Kia jumped into the driver's seat and reversed the car into a police cruiser, officers said. He and another youth, ages 14 and 16, exited the car and ran, according to officers. Police later arrested them.

Officers recovered suspected stolen credit cards, two loaded magazines with a holster, a gun and other stolen property from the Kia, police said.

On Monday, police arrested a 14-year-old who investigators say is linked to dozens of crimes in the city. Prosecutors have filed 14 charges against him in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court stemming from a robbery and thefts in recent weeks.

Police apprehended the teen and two others, ages 13 and 17, after they led officers on a chase in a stolen Hyundai, according to authorities. Investigators seized two firearms in connection with the incident.