Solon Suspect Was Armed

(Solon) - Solon Police are providing details in the arrest of a suspect after a vehicle chase and officer-involved shooting incident from Thursday morning. Solon Police Department acknowledges the seriousness of this incident. The incident taking place in the vicinity of an elementary school is alarming.

Solon Police are hoping that transparency will bring some closure to parents and residents in the area.

Solon Police arrested a juvenile male, age 16, from Cleveland, as the only suspect involved in a stolen vehicle chase, on suspicion of Receiving Stolen Property, Improper Handling of a Firearm, Fleeing and Eluding, Aggravated Menacing, and Carrying Concealed Weapons charges. The suspect was transferred to the custody of the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center on Thursday afternoon. A formal determination of charges will be made by that agency.

Patrol Officer Bryan Butto was the officer involved in the shooting. He was hired by Solon Police Department on May 10, 2021. He has worked continuously as a police officer in the state of Ohio since 2009, prior to joining SPD. Solon Police Officers were alerted to the presence of a stolen vehicle on Aurora Road via an automated license plate reader system around 10:31 am on Apr. 6. Officer Butto located the vehicle on Aurora Road and learned that it was taken in an Aggravated Robbery reported to the Cleveland Police Department on April 4. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle on SOM Center Road south of Aurora Road with lights and siren in a marked police vehicle. The suspect vehicle, a blue Honda Odyssey minivan, did not stop. A chase ensued, traveling south on SOM Center Rd, west on Arthur Rd, and northbound on Solon Blvd. It lasted approx. one minute and forty-five seconds (1:45). The stolen car crashed into the rear of another vehicle on Solon Blvd near Roxbury Elementary School.

A suspect (driver) exited the stolen Honda with a gun in his hand. Shots were fired by the officer as the suspect fled from the vehicle. The suspect traveled southeast through some backyards, dropping the gun in the grass. After a short foot chase, the suspect surrendered. The foot chase lasted about 45 seconds. There were no injuries to the officer or suspect.

The suspect’s firearm, a loaded semi-automatic .40 caliber Glock model 23, was recovered by police immediately after the safe capture of the suspect. The weapon was loaded with 22 bullets. It had an extended magazine. One of those bullets was in the chamber. It is not clear if the suspect had fired a weapon or not. A neighborhood canvass did not turn up any damage to property or injuries to citizens immediately afterwards.

Officer Butto is currently on paid administrative leave.

It was originally reported that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) would assist in the investigation. BCI will continue to provide support through their processing of the incident scene and preservation of evidence. The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) will continue with this investigation. Solon Police Department will also complete an internal investigation of policy and procedures as more facts are established. The case is still under investigation.

Roxbury Elementary School was placed into lockdown after the crash for about six (6) minutes. The school remained open after the incident. Solon Blvd was closed while the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted in the investigation, which lasted through the end of the school day. The Solon City Schools communicated with parents to provide alternative dismissal instructions at the end of the school day.

There were some minor injuries to the driver and passenger of the vehicle that was struck in the crash. Additional information may be made available early next week. This remains an open investigation.

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