Armed carjacking ends in police chase, apprehension near Dix Stadium

An+armed+carjacking+and+subsequent+police+chase+led+to+a+heavy+police+presence+on+and+off+campus+Tuesday+evening.

Jacob Brooks

An armed carjacking and subsequent police chase led to a heavy police presence on and off campus Tuesday evening.

Jacob Brooks, TV2 Reporter

Police are searching for a suspect involved in an armed carjacking after a chase that started in Akron and ended near Dix Stadium in Kent Tuesday evening.

Barberton Police sent an alert earlier about a vehicle that was taken during a carjacking involving the use of a firearm.

According to Akron Police Capt. Dave Laughlin, a license plate-reading camera system indicated the vehicle was in Akron around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Minutes later, officers found the vehicle driving on Vernon Odom Boulevard at McTaggart Drive in Akron. They attempted to pull it over, but the driver didn’t stop, and a chase began.

The chase continued on Interstate 76 eastbound until exiting northbound on State Route 44 near Rootstown.

Other police agencies began arriving to assist officers as the chase continued through Portage County, Laughlin said.

Police deployed a tire deflation device and disabled the vehicle at Summit Road and Hodgeman Lane in Kent shortly after 7 p.m.

Two Akron Police cruisers sustained tire damage because of the device. One cruiser was seen being towed from the scene.

Two suspects were apprehended near the scene, police said, and a search is currently underway for the third suspect.

Jacob Brooks is a TV2 reporter. Contact him at [email protected].