Teen gang member arrested after pointing gun at homeowners during daylight carjacking: chief

WARREN COUNTY, Ohio (WXIX) — A 15-year-old was arrested recently after stealing a vehicle in broad daylight, but a Tri-State police chief says the teen is part of a gang that is wreaking havoc from Dayton to Cincinnati.

On Sept. 13, Clearcreek Township Police Chief John Terrill said the teen and another suspect entered the area in a car stolen from Indiana.

“It's called a network, a gang, whatever, Montgomery County is aware of a lot of the people we're monitoring, but everything from Cincinnati to Dayton gets hit from time to time,” the chief explained.

The suspects first attempted to steal a car while a woman was unloading her groceries, but when they realized the key had not been left inside the vehicle, they fled.

They then stole an SUV from a nearby home in Clearcreek Township. When the homeowners came out to confront them, Chief Terrill said one of the teens pulled out a gun.

The suspects drove off in the stolen black SUV.

An unmarked police car quickly spotted the couple after the call for help was made and the chase began.

“Two vehicles were trying to exit onto 75 from the Austin Landing area, they collided as they were trying to turn, and then one of the vehicles went off the roadway into the air,” Chief Terrill said.

Police arrested the 15-year-old driver, who police said would have been at school that day if he had not been suspended.

Police believe they have identified the other driver who managed to flee on September 13.

The chief says this is the first time something like this has happened in broad daylight, but no matter what time of day it is, the reason they target one house over another is the same.

“We got information during the investigation,” the chief said. “They targeted those two homes because the garage doors were open and that's what the agencies found and what we found throughout the night.”

Chief Terrill said the best thing residents can do is keep their garage doors closed, especially at night, and never leave their keys in their vehicles.

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