Akron police say a 14-year-old is facing a stack of charges after Anti-Violence Bureau detectives spotted him near East CLC with a stolen Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun tucked in his waistband on the 1800 block of Shaw Avenue. When officers moved in, the teen allegedly bolted, but they caught him after a short chase and took him to the Summit County Juvenile Detention Center. According to police, he is charged with carrying a concealed weapon and receiving stolen property as part of the department’s targeted enforcement in neighborhoods around schools.
Anti‑Violence Bureau Surveillance Led To The Stop
In a post on Facebook, the Akron Police Department said Anti-Violence Bureau detectives were set up on surveillance Tuesday after getting credible information that the boy was hiding a firearm near East CLC. Detectives watched him walk out of a garage in the 1800 block of Shaw Avenue, tried to stop him and then chased him on foot when he ran. The incident was logged under report number 26-46155, according to the department.
Recovered Weapon Was Reported Stolen; Charges Filed
According to the same post by the Akron Police Department, detectives recovered a stolen Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun from the teen’s waistband and transported him to the Summit County Juvenile Detention Center. Police say he is facing charges of carrying a concealed weapon, obstructing official business, receiving stolen property and theft. Chief Brian Harding, quoted in the department’s post and in local coverage, said the case "highlights the proactive work of our Anti-Violence Bureau detectives" and emphasized getting guns out of juveniles’ hands.
How To Submit Tips
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Akron Police Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or the department tip line at 330-375-2TIP, WOIO reported. Anonymous tips can also go to Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS or by texting TIPSCO to 274637, and the department’s app offers another way to send information.
Anti‑Violence Bureau's Recent Activity
Officials say the arrest is part of a broader pattern of targeted Anti-Violence Bureau operations that local outlets report have taken multiple guns and drugs off Akron streets over the past year. Cleveland 13 News detailed a joint operation in October that uncovered several firearms and equipment used to modify weapons, underscoring the unit’s ongoing disruption work.
Legal Note
Because the suspect is a minor, officials say he was taken to the Summit County Juvenile Detention Center while the case moves through juvenile court. The Summit County Juvenile Court describes the detention facility as a secure, short-term holding center for youth awaiting court action or placement, and says it offers educational and rehabilitative programming while they are detained.
