A group of suspects are now in the custody of the Summit County Juvenile Detention Center after Akron Police say they're linked to a string of Sunday robberies in town.

Three alleged armed robberies were reported in Akron within minutes of one another.

The first incident was reported at 3:15 a.m., near the intersection of North Hawkins Avenue and Kingsley Street. A victim told police that he was riding his bike, when suspects approached him, pointed a gun and demanded his belongings. The victim gave up his cellphone and guitar case before the suspect left in a green Honda Civic.

The second incident took place at 4 a.m. at the intersection of Grace Avenue and Peckham Street. A victim tells police suspects took her purse at gunpoint.

The third reported robbery happened in the 600 block of West Market Street, where a victim said he was approached for his backpack. He said the suspects pointed something at him during the incident at 4:10 a.m.

Following the third incident, officers say they spotted the green vehicle described. When they attempted to pull the car over, three suspects got out of the vehicle to run away. Officers caught up with two of the suspects after a foot chase.

The third suspect was taken into custody Monday morning. The fourth suspect turned himself in to detectives Tuesday morning.

"The vehicle used during the robberies was reported stolen out of West Akron," Lt. Rick Edwards said.

All four are charged with two counts of aggravated robbery.

An Akron man is listed in serious condition at Akron City Hospital after suffering gunshot wounds while playing video games.

Akron Police Lt. Rick Edwards says Dennis Withrow, 28, of Brittain Road, told police he was shot by three masked male suspects while playing video games with two other men at about 4 p.m. Monday afternoon.

Edwards says Withrow told them the suspects forced their way into the apartment in the 1200 block of Brittain Road and opened fire.

"The shooting remains under investigation and no suspects have been identified," Edwards said.

The two males who were playing video games with Withrow were charged with possession of cocaine.

"They were charged after officers recovered over 100 grams of cocaine, both inside the apartment and outside the apartment in a flower pot," Edwards said.

One Akron 911 dispatcher is being commended for her handling of a 5-year old boy, his crying two month old brother, and their unconscious mother.

The dispatcher and the boy spoke for about eight minutes the night of January 27th.

The boy tells the dispatcher he was trying to wake his mother because his little brother was crying.

You can listen to a portion of the boy's 911 call  here:

 5-year old's 911 Call by Akron NewsNow

Akron Police gave the boy kudos for his maturity in handling the situation. Authorites say it was later discovered the mother passed out from a heroin overdose.

Officers and paramedics arrived on scene finding heroin syringes and other paraphernalia. The mother, only identified as "Tiffany" was taken to Akron General Medical Center

Both children were turned over to the custody of Summit County Childrens Services before being placed with a relative of the family.

"Tiffany" is now facing child endangering charges and various drug -related charges.

Police have made an arrest yesterday morning, nabbing a man they say was connected with a pair of burglaries in the University of Akron area.

Around 8:30 Monday morning, police arrested Jerry Lutz and charged after allegedly robbing two businesses near the UA campus.

"He was arrested on two counts of burglary in reference to a pair of burglaries occurring at the University of Akron within the last couple of months."

Akron Police Captain Dan Zampelli says Lutz is currently in the Summit County Jail  facing two counts of burglary.

Zampelli explains the 48-year old Lutz could be facing additional charges.

"It is our understanding that he has also confessed to a number of burglaries in the same area."

Akron Police say those charges will be pursued at a later date.

New developments in the case of the three children living where police busted a marijuana growing operation earlier this week.

News Channel 5 cameras caught up with Akron Police and Summit County Children's Services as the three children are now living with their mother after police came to the Goodyear Boulevard home belonging to their grandparents who were arrested in connection with growing pot on their property.

Sharon Geffken, Director of Social Services says that the investigation stemmed from a concerned call to Children's Services.

 "One of the concerns posed to us was that the children smelled like marijuana," she said.

Akron Police said there was a strong odor of pot before they even got to the front door.

Akron Police Captain Dan Zampelli describes what officers found once they entered the home.

"They found 31 marijuana plants growing in the basement."

Two girls, ages 8 and 6, and a 5-year-old boy all lived in the home with their grandparents. The kids and their mother lived in the home for a period of time.

Zampelli says it was especially alarming for police to find three small children in a home surrounded by so many drugs.

"It's serious when you use illegal drugs in front of small children like this," he says. "It takes it to a whole other level when they are growing the marijuana."

Police say Jeffrey and Marilyn Rienzi, admitted to growing the pot. They are facing various child endangering charges and drug charges.

Summit County Children Services did not take custody of the kids, who are currently living with their mother.

Children Services will be closely keeping an eye on the three children and their mother to assure that they're living in safe conditions.
 

On the Web www.newsnet5.com

An Akron man was found gulity of  shooting at SWAT officers during a drug raid.

Summit County Prosecutors say a jury found Daniel Hayes guilty of various drug and weapons charges after the SWAT team executed a search warrant at known drug house on Talbot Avenue  the morning of October 7th of 2010.

Police arrived at the house, kicking in the back door and set off  a flash grenade before entering.

Hayes was in the bedroom of the house with an 18-year-old girl and  fired three shots from the bedroom in the direction of the officers. He then broke the bedroom window and threw the gun out. An Akron detective saw Hayes throw the gun.

Ballistics confirmed that three bullet casings and another bullet found in the house came from the gun he threw out the window.

APD also found Hayes’ DNA on the gun and the broken glass from the bedroom window.

Hayes will be sentenced March 9.

Three children were removed from a Goodyear Boulevard home Monday afternoon after their parents were arrested for allegedly growing marijuana inside the home.

Akron Police Captain Dan Zampelli says when officers got there, there was a strong smell of marijuana around the home.

"In an eventual search of the house, officers found 31 marijuana plants growing in the basement."

Jeffrey and Marilyn Rienzi consented to the search of their home.Zampelli says the children were removed from the home and are now in the custody of Summit County Children Services.

Both Jeffrey and Marilyn Renzi are in the Summit County Jail awaiting various drug and child endangering charges

Akron Police detectives are investigating the death of a toddler in Akron.

The Beacon Journal reports the body of 17-month old Patrick Lerch was found unresponsive Sunday night.

Police discovered a meth lab at the home where he was found in the 500 block of Saint Ledger Avenue in the Goodyear Heights neighborhood.

The toddler's mother, Heather M. Lerch, 20, was arrested along with three other men Monday.

She was arrested on charges of illegal manufacture of drugs, illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, endangering children, among other charges.

She's being held in the Summit County Jail.

The other suspects Ronald S. Legg, 22; Randy L. Legg, 19; Allen R. Kostra, 24, are all facing similar charges. Police say the three men lived at the home with Heather Lerch.

An autopsy was conducted by the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office on Monday and results are pending.

Patrick Gillespie, spokesperson for the medical examiner's office, told the Beacon that Lerch was found in his crib when officers arrived.

The child was taken to Akron Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:17 p.m.

On the web: www.Ohio.com

An Akron man will be spending the next two years behind bars for assaulting a woman who he said owed him money.

26-year old Maycon Alvarez rode his bike to a female friend's house in order to collect money she owed him in early morning hours of December 3.

The woman and her husband blocked the front door, but Alvarez went to the rear of the house and kicked in the back door. Once inside, Alvarez hit the woman and struck her husband with a gun. He left the house before police arrived, but caught up with him one block away.

Alvarez was found guility of Assault and Weapons Under Disability charges.

Police say a K-9 unit found the gun with with blood and DNA that matched the woman's husband, near where Alvarez was found.

An Akron man has been found guilty of the rape of a special-needs girl in late August.

The Summit County Prosecutors office made the announcement Monday after the verdict was announced late Friday.

Police say on August 28, Mercer raped the 10-year-old girl  behind his sister’s garage after he lured the girl from her home with $5, a candy bar, and the promise that he would be her boyfriend . She immediately told her mother, who brought her to Akron Children’s Hospital.

Officers found Mercer shortly after the rape was reported and were able to get a taped confession from him about the incident.

Judge Amy Corrigall-Jones will sentence Mercer on March 6 to life in prison with parole eligibility after 10 years.