(Cuyahoga County) - Parma Police have arrested charged three men in connection with the armed robbery and kidnapping of a Seven Hills man that occurred this past weekend. The men are identified as the following individuals:
Maurice Banks Jr., age 18, lists a last known address in the 3000 block of W. 73rd Street in Cleveland.
Harry Ramon Velez, age 20, lists a last known address in the 1400 block of W. 101st Street in Cleveland.
Luis Daniel Rivera-Franco, age 20, lists a last known address in the 2000 block of West Blvd in Cleveland.
All three individuals were each charged with Aggravated Robbery, first degree felony and appeared in Parma Municipal Court. Their cases were bound over to a Cuyahoga County Grand Jury with additional charges likely after consultation with prosecutors.
The following statement was issued by Parma Police:
On October 28, 2017 at approximately 10:35pm, that Parma Police Department responded to a house in the 4300 block of Wood Avenue for a report of man who was robbed at gun point. When police arrived, they spoke with a 26 year-old Seven Hills man who told police that he was walking on Forestwood Drive when he was pushed from behind and knocked to the ground. The man told police there were three men, later identified as Banks, Velez, and Rivera-Franco, standing over him. The victim told police Banks put a gun to his head and forced him to hand over his wallet and his cell phone. The man said that Banks, Velez, and Rivera-Franco forced him to walk with them to a nearby Dairy Mart, where Banks made the victim give him his debit card and pin number. Banks then walked inside the Dairy Mart to an ATM and withdrew money from the victim’s account while Velez and Rivera-Franco detained the victim outside the store.
After stealing money from the victim’s bank account, the man told police that the three men forced him to walk with them northbound on State Road where they wanted the victim to take them to the victim’s friend’s house so they could rob that person as well. When they got near State Road and Wood Avenue, the victim was able to escape and run. The three men chased after the victim and caught up to him at a nearby house where they began beating him. A nearby witness heard the victim yelling for help and saw the three suspects beating him. The witness who has a CCW permit and was armed with a firearm, ran over to help. He pointed his firearm at Banks, Velez, and Rivera-Franco and told them to stop at which time they fled from the scene.
Parma Police officers began checking the area for the suspects when two officers spotted the three suspects in the area of State Road and Snow Road. When they saw the police all three fled on foot and went in different directions. After a short foot pursuit the three men were captured. Velez and Rivera-Franco were taken into custody without incident. Officers used a Taser device on Banks after he repeatedly ignored their commands. After being hit with the Taser, Banks fell to the ground and was taken into custody. Banks was holding a satchel bag when he was arrested. Officers searched the bag and found a loaded firearm and the victim’s property in his possession. After being cleared by paramedics from PFD, Banks and the others were transported to the Parma jail.
(Photos by Parma Police Department & Ken Robinson/WTAM)
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