Activist's son charged in violent crimes

Gerald E. Rose, Jr., 22, faces charges including aggravated robbery, possession and trafficking of drugs, and assault.

The son of an anti-violence advocate was arrested Sunday after a series of violent and drug-related crimes.

Gerald E. Rose, Jr., 22, of 1236 Steeple Chase Circle, is charged with aggravated robbery, possession of drugs, trafficking in drugs, carrying concealed weapons, assault, and aggravated menacing.

The charges were filed in Toledo Municipal Court at various times from December through April.

He is being held in the Lucas County jail in lieu of a total of $150,000 bond.

"I'm concerned about what's going on," said the man's father, Gerald Rose, Sr., an Atlanta-based activist who grew up in Toledo. His father, the Rev. Floyd Rose, was also a well-known civil rights activist in Toledo before moving to Georgia.

Reverend Rose could not be reached for comment Monday.

"I still love my son, I won't give up on my son," Gerald Rose said.

Last summer, Gerald Rose, Sr., visited Toledo after a series of shootings and homicides, saying the city was "in a state of emergency" and told youths he met at several central city housing complexes to "put down the pistol and pick up the pencil."

He stressed the need for a positive male role models and offered to take two young boys out to have fun and talk about they trouble they face and violence in the city.

Police allege that the younger Mr. Rose and Corey Dotson, 27, on April 21, robbed Damon Cooke, 36, at gunpoint at Whitegate Drive and Southbriar Road in South Toledo.

The case against Dotson was dropped on June 27 in Toledo Municipal Court, apparently based upon the recommendation of a prosecutor, according to the case docket.

In documents filed in Municipal Court, the younger Mr. Rose is also accused of carrying 18 Ecstasy pills and of having 45-caliber handgun in a car in April.

A woman named Shannon Franklin filed a complaint in Municipal Court in January, accusing the younger Mr. Rose of pistol-whipping her across the head and pointing the gun at her in December.

When the suspect's father was told about all the charges he said, "I never knew about that situation."

Gerald Rose, Sr., said his son was living with him in Atlanta, but about a year ago he moved back to Toledo, although he said he's not sure why.

"My son used to come down here and visit me every summer since the age of 9, see, me and the mom could not get along, and we went through a situation where I hadn't seen my son in awhile," Mr. Rose said.

"Since I hadn't seen him, what was going on, I guess he started getting into some trouble with things."

Mr. Rose said he believes that had his son stayed with him in Atlanta, he would not be in trouble.

In Toledo, he must have gotten mixed up with the wrong people, Mr. Rose said.

"That's what I need to find out," he said. "Did you get caught up with the wrong crowd?"

Mr. Rose said he has not spoken with his son since he started got into trouble.

"I'm disappointed," Mr. Rose said. "It makes me step up my game even more."

Contact Taylor Dungjen at: tdungjen@theblade.com, 419-724-6054, or on Twitter @tdungjen_Blade.