A gang of AK-47 toting teens gone bad took police on a wild ride through Portsmouth and Sciotoville. Along for the ride, a 20-year-old Chillicothe woman who is charged with weapons possession and contributing to the delinquency of children.
Holding People At Gunpoint
The original call came in at 2:30 am in the morning on Wednesday. Portsmouth Police were called to Summit Street for a report of multiple suspects in a gray Ford holding people at gunpoint. The victims fled on foot and the vehicle took off.
Now, police thought one of the people in the vehicle was from Wheelersburg and might be headed home. An officer patrolling in Sciotoville decided to head out to the highway and intercept the vehicle.
The Stop
The officer observed a gray Ford Explorer headed at a high rate of speed. According to the police report, it swerved in and out of traffic. The officer caught up to the Ford and followed it as it exited into Sciotoville. When the suspects turned left onto Harding and ran a stop sign, the officer turned on the patrol car lights.
The suspect drove about a block before pulling up on a curb and stopping. That’s when things got even more interesting.
No Names-But We Got Guns
Seven people were in the vehicle. The diver didn’t have a license and every single person in the Ford claimed not to know their Social Security Number.
Once other officers got to the scene and began hauling suspects out of the vehicle, they spotted two weapons on the back floorboard: An AK-47 and Taurus G3 9 mm. Police noticed one guy kept putting his hand behind him despite warnings to stop. Turns out he had a small handgun in the small of his back.
He wouldn’t give his full name but officers were finally able to identify him as a missing juvenile. He was one of three juveniles in the vehicle.
Putting Up A Fight
The suspects did not go quietly. One juvenile suspect screamed and yelled and claimed to be in a gang. Police had to separate him from the rest of his crew as he was trying to incite them to kill cops. He also promised that as soon as he got out of jail he was going to, “Beat up all the white people.”
Another suspect refused to give his name and struggled with officers as they attempted to bring him in. They found marijuana in his shoe.
The juveniles were taken to the Ross County Juvenile Detention Center and their guardians were notified. The adults were booked into the Scioto County Jail. Police didn’t provide the names of the juveniles.
The Suspects
Stephanie Comer, 20, is charged with:
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle
- Contributing to the delinquency of a child
Her bond totaled $11,000. She was arraigned in municipal court on the 13th and due back for a pretrial hearing on May 22.
Torell Mclemore, 18, is charged with:
- Resisting arrest
- Carrying concealed weapons
- Improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle
- Contributing to the delinquency of a child
He’s also due back on court on May 22.
Jovan Stotridge-Beverly, 20, is charged with:
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle
- Contributing to the delinquency of a child
He’s also due back in Portsmouth Municipal Court on May 22.
Skylar J. Evans, 19, is charged with:
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Handling a concealed weapon
- Contributing to the delinquency of a child
He is also scheduled to appear in court on May 22.
