On Wednesday, evening silence in the Prospect Avenue area was shattered by sirens and the roaring of tires as the Cleveland police concluded a dramatic car chase, arresting three men armed with an AK-47 style pistol and other firearms. This incident, culminating in arrests near the Cleveland Police Third District building, serves as a stark reminder of the rising crime in Cleveland, where car thefts and illegal guns increasingly threaten the city's safety. While one suspect remains at large, the community, still reeling from recent shooting at Euclid Beach, asks: can Cleveland curb the wave of violence?
Dramatic chase in the heart of the city
According to Cleveland police, the incident began when officers from Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office spotted the stolen vehicle — a silver 2023 Dodge Charger — on East 55th Street. An attempt to stop the vehicle escalated into a chaotic pursuit as the driver, ignoring police signals, sped through heavily populated areas, demonstrating “erratic driving” and “disregard for traffic rules.” The chase ended near the intersection of Prospect Avenue and East 55th Street when the car broke down after a failed maneuver, leaving it parked illegally with open doors. Four suspects, police said, “carelessly abandoned” the vehicle and fled on foot.
Officers quickly surrounded the area, deploying K9 units to search for the suspects. During the operation, police found a gun in the style of an AK-47 discarded nearby, as well as a hoodie likely belonging to one of the suspects. Two men were apprehended across from the Cleveland Police Third District building, while a third was found using a K9 dog near the entrance of a store on Perkins Avenue. Searches south of Chester Avenue uncovered three more pistols thrown by the suspects. “It was a coordinated operation,” said a Cleveland police spokesperson in a comment to News5Cleveland. “But the fourth suspect remains at large, and we urge the community to report any information.”
Shadow of violence over Cleveland
This incident is part of a disturbing trend in Cleveland, where, according to Cleveland.com, the number of car thefts increased by 15% in 2024 compared to the previous year, with a significant portion of these crimes linked to illegal guns. In recent months, the region has witnessed several high-profile pursuits, including a chase in Parma Heights that ended in a crash and arrest of a suspect in a stolen vehicle, and a fatal crash on I-90 caused by a car thief driving against traffic. In the East 55th Street area, known for its tense history, recent gunfire at Baki Plaza, where one person was killed and five wounded, only heightened community concern.
The find of an AK-47 style pistol adds a new level of alarm. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), semi-automatic rifles similar to the AK-47 are increasingly appearing in crimes across Ohio’s city neighborhoods, partly due to their availability on the black market. “Such weapons are not just frightening,” said Mike Polensek, a Cleveland City Council member, in an interview with WKYC. “They are meant for war, not for our streets.” Polensek, who has long advocated for stricter gun control, called for cooperation between local authorities and federal agencies to stop the flow of illegal firearms.