Brook Park, Berea teenagers arrested after causing trouble at Berea Giant Eagle

BEREA, Ohio – A 17-year-old Brook Park boy and two 16-year-old Berea boys were arrested and barred from entering Giant Eagle, 50 West Bridge Street, after they caused a disturbance in and around the store on October 9.

A Giant Eagle worker called police around 5:30 p.m. and said two boys, one later identified as the Brook Park boy, were workers at the video recording store and were hanging out nearby of the wine department. They asked the boys to leave but they refused.

When police arrived, the Brook Park boy was still there, but his friend had run off. When the police asked the boy for his name, he said, “What crime am I suspected of committing?”

Police told the boy that his behavior inside the store was considered disorderly conduct. Also, he had refused to leave the store when asked.

Store workers asked police if they could get the boy to delete the videos he recorded. The police said he couldn’t.

Police told the boy that if he ever returned to the Giant Eagle, he would be arrested. He started walking away from the store.

The boy then turned and walked back towards the police. He said a police sergeant had told him police had to provide a written prohibition notice. The police said they didn’t have to do that. The boy left.

Around 7:30 p.m., police were called back to the Giant Eagle. The Brook Park boy had returned with another boy who had previously been barred from Giant Eagle by a store security guard.

.Employees at the Giant Eagle told police they believed the two boys were stealing. They said the boys had left the store and were heading toward Cleveland Metroparks to an area where teenagers are known to hang out.

The police walked down a dark path into the woods and into the meeting area. They saw cell phone lights and heard boys talking across the road.

The three boys, not knowing the police were there, started walking towards the police. One of the boys was identified as a 16-year-old Berea boy. He tried to get past the police, but they stopped him. He and the other boys smelled of marijuana.

Police then found the 17-year-old Brook Park boy, a second 16-year-old Berea boy and a 16-year-old Strongsville girl at the meeting location. They began arguing with the police, who noticed two large bottles of Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix on the floor next to a fire.

The 17-year-old appeared to be intoxicated. His speech was slurred and his eyes were glassy. After arguing with the police for a while longer, he fled. Police did not pursue him, but informed other officers that he had left the scene.

Police collected contact information for all of the children’s parents, except for the second 16-year-old boy, who refused to cooperate. He admitted he had been to Giant Eagle twice earlier that day with the 17-year-old. However, he denied stealing anything.

Police then found a backpack containing three more bottles of Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix, plus the schoolwork of the second 16-year-old boy, the one who had been at Giant Eagle earlier.

Meanwhile, the 17-year-old returned to the meeting place. He argued with police again, and his combative behavior inspired the two 16-year-old Berea boys to do the same.

Police arrested the 17-year-old and placed him in the back seat of a police cruiser. The two 16-year-olds were told they were free to leave.

However, the two 16-year-olds continued to argue with the police and positioned themselves near the officers. One of them said to the police: “You think you’re tough?” Police arrested both of them for obstructing official business.