Teen accused of shooting at police could be certified as adult

11/26/2012
BLADE STAFF
Titus Crittendon, 15, heads back to juvenile detention following a hearing in Lucas County juvenile court earlier today.
Titus Crittendon, 15, heads back to juvenile detention following a hearing in Lucas County juvenile court earlier today.

Lucas County juvenile prosecutors intend to file paperwork to certify a 15-year-old boy, who is accused of shooting another teen and then firing at a Toledo police officer, as an adult.

Titus Crittendon, of 731 Pinewood Ave., was ordered today to be held in detention at the Lucas County juvenile detention center. He is charged with two counts of felonious assault, both with gun specifications. The teen's attorney, Timothy Effler, entered denials for each count.

Because the Crittendon youth is only 15, the state does not have to certify him, but given the "severity" of the charges, assistant Prosecutor Lori Olender said she will file the charges by the end of today.

Assistant Prosecutor Patricia Wardrop, who was at the hearing today, said the county has "taken a stand" on violent gun-related crimes.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Thursday; a trial is scheduled for Dec. 6.

The teen, a Scott High School student, will turn 16 on Friday.

Police say the teen and a still-unidentified male shot Tyreece Richardson, 17, of Toledo, in the hip near Nicholas Street and Prouty Avenue, in South Toledo, Thursday evening. Police nearby heard a suspect description and stopped the two males who then fled in opposite directions.

The unidentified male dropped his gun and jumped a fence and was able to escape; the Crittendon youth, chased by Officer Melvin Russell, fired a single shot at the officer.

The officer took cover, and fired one round at the teen.

Neither was injured in the shooting.

Police were able to detain the teen and found on the boy a gold-colored gun.