Two men who called 911 as a group of people allegedly attempted to steal their drugs and money are now facing charges along with those who were involved in the attempted robbery. The incident occurred in Mentor at an apartment complex. The men reportedly made their call upon seeing the masked individuals. The alleged robbers later fled in an automobile as officials arrived on the scene.
A 24-year-old Painesville man and two juveniles were detained after the vehicle stopped. Another Painesville man fled on foot but was taken into custody a few days after the incident. The driver faces a charge of drug trafficking as well as charges of aggravated robbery, contributing to delinquency of minors, failing to comply with directions from an officer and conspiracy. The other man involved in the incident is facing similar charges. Additionally, he is facing several weapons violations in the case. Meanwhile, the men who initially called 911 have been charged with possession of criminal tools and drug trafficking. A firearm was allegedly taken from their apartment by authorities.
An individual involved in a similar case might want to seek legal counsel in developing a defense, especially if charges resulted after calling for help in connection with an incident such as an attempted robbery. Search and seizure rights might be evaluated based on the specific situation. A lawyer assisting a defendant in such a case might want to evaluate the grounds leading up to a search of an apartment or vehicle.
Charges alone are not an indication of guilt, and the specific facts of a situation play an important role in determining whether a case will be resolved by trial or through a plea agreement. Occasionally, errors by authorities may result in charges against a defendant being dropped.
Source: FOX 8 Cleveland, “Police: Several face charges after ‘drug dealers’ call 911 on masked men“, Darcie Loreno, December 06, 2014