Two men are facing felony charges after police say they tailed a man with developmental disabilities off a Metro bus in Colerain Township, then knocked him down and robbed him along a busy Cincinnati corridor.
Investigators say the attack happened on May 10 near the intersection of Colerain Avenue and Banning Road. The victim, according to court records, was pushed to the ground and stripped of his iPhone, a Bluetooth speaker and other personal items. The case is now working its way through Hamilton County courts on robbery charges.
As reported by WKRC, police identified the suspects as Melvin Hopkins and Aaron Price. Investigators say video evidence helped point them toward the pair, and court filings indicate the victim later picked both men out of photo lineups. Each is charged with robbery under Ohio law.
How Police Say The Bus Stop Robbery Went Down
Court documents outline a straightforward but brutal sequence: Hopkins and Price allegedly followed the rider after he stepped off the Metro bus, trailed him near the intersection, then shoved him to the ground before taking his belongings.
Detectives used surveillance video and witness accounts to piece together what happened that day, according to the filings. The investigation is still active while Hamilton County prosecutors review the case and prepare for upcoming court hearings.
Heightened Risks For People With Disabilities
Advocates warn that people with developmental disabilities are disproportionately targeted for abuse and exploitation and often face extra hurdles when it comes to reporting what happened and getting help, according to Disability Rights Ohio.
Ohio’s system for responding to incidents involving people with developmental disabilities uses a Major Unusual Incident, or MUI, process. State and local agencies rely on that framework to document serious harm, potential abuse or exploitation, and to route those reports to investigators. Stark County Developmental Disabilities notes that the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) offers a hotline and online reporting tools that the public, providers, or family members can use when they suspect abuse or exploitation and need to raise urgent concerns.
What The Law Says About Robbery In Ohio
Under Ohio’s Revised Code, robbery is a felony offense. The statute spells out how the use or threat of force, or the presence of a weapon, can affect the degree of the charge and potential penalties.
Court officials in Hamilton County will weigh the facts laid out in police reports and court filings as prosecutors move forward with arraignments and any future hearings in the case, following state statute guidance.
Colerain Township police are leading the investigation. The department’s page on the township website lists phone numbers and other contact details for anyone who has information about this or other local crimes. Residents with immediate tips or leads are urged to use the contact information posted there.
