GENEVA — A Mentor teenager sidestepped charges of car jacking, but has been cited for disorderly conduct after he attempted to open the door of a car in downtown Geneva traffic Sunday afternoon, Geneva police reports show.
A teenage girl was waiting at the light at routes 20 and 534 at 2 p.m. Sunday when the boy walked up to her car and tried to open the rear driver’s side door, police reports show.
“(The victim) said (the suspect) didn’t say anything, just tried to open the door,” the police report reads.
The victim also told officers that the car doors were locked, but her window was wound all the way down. She said the boy walked up to the car, tried to open the door and then backed away when he saw her boyfriend in the front passenger seat, police reports show.
Scared, the girl drove off and called police, police reports show.
Officer Todd Emmitt said he found the suspect sitting on a bench outside Gale’s Coffee Corner and searched the boy for weapons. He was unarmed, police reports show.
Emmitt said the boy, who is just 15 days shy of his 18th birthday, walked to Geneva from Mentor.
“When asked why he walked to Geneva from Mentor, the boy gave no answer,” Police Chief Dan Dudik said. “We have no idea what he was doing in Geneva or why he felt he could just open the door and get into this car.”
Dudik said officers could not charge the boy for anything but disorderly conduct because he never made his intentions known at the time of the incident.
“Officers cannot prove the suspect was attempting to car jack the vehicle,” Emmitt said.
The boy has been charged and will appear in Ashtabula County Juvenile Court, Dudik confirmed Tuesday.
Dudik said the victim did the right thing by calling police.
“I can certainly understand why she would be concerned and frightened by this incident,” Dudik said. “(The suspect) did attempt to enter her car.”
Local News
No way to ask for a ride
Teen boy charged in hitchhiking incident in Geneva
- Local News
-
-
Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job
The Buckeye Local Board of Education will conduct interviews with six superintendent hopefuls next week, said Board President Jacqueline Hillyer.
-
Shooting suspect to be tried as adult
A 17-year-old will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday after hearing a sheriff’s deputy describe how the teen wore a T-shirt with the word “Killer” and admitted shooting people.
-
Ohio EPA takes AIM at site of hazardous wastes
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency staff members returned this week to the site of the now-bankrupt Ashtabula Iron and Metal on West 30th Street to take samples of the unknown liquids and analyze hazardous wastes, asbestos and other potential health and environmental concerns.
-
Commissioners look at selling nursing beds
Commissioners have retained the services of a law firm that specializes in the sale of excess nursing home beds as the board looks at ways to raise additional revenues.
-
Conneaut looks at demolition funds
The city is making preparations to secure its share of nearly $692,000 in demolition funds expected to be Ashtabula County’s portion of a multi-billion dollar settlement with national mortgage lenders.
-
Volunteers get more help than needed at rescue spot
Despite their good intentions, Edward and Mary proved more hindrance than help to the Conneaut KeyBank employees lending a helping hand Thursday to a farm animal rescue operation in Kingsville Township.
-
220 graduate at Lakeside
Thursday night was a time of pomp, circumstance and smiles as 220 seniors graduated from Lakeside High School.
-
Lost money?
There is no map, and “X” may not mark the spot, but hundreds of Ashtabula County residents may have unclaimed cash ready and waiting for them through the Ohio Department of Commerce.
-
Lane to be tried as adult in Chardon High shooting
A 17-year-old boy will be tried as an adult in the school shooting deaths of three students, a juvenile court judge ruled Thursday.
-
Happy Hearts School holds commencement for its Class of 2012
As commencement exercises go in Ashtabula County, the one at Happy Hearts School was small, with just five students.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job
