Toledo teen charged with felonious assault
11/27/2012Before Titus Crittendon was ordered to be held in detention Monday, Lucas County assistant juvenile Prosecutor Patricia Wardrop told him that the court is "taking a stand" against violent, gun-related crimes.
The 15-year-old Scott High School freshman is charged with two counts of felonious assault for allegedly shooting Tyreece Richardson, 17, of Toledo, and then exchanging gunfire with a Toledo police officer on Thanksgiving.
Timothy Effler, an attorney for the Crittendon youth, entered a denial to each count on Monday as the teen, dressed in a forest green detention-center issued jumper, sat before Judge Denise Navarre Cubbon. Each of the charges has a corresponding gun specification.
Because the Crittendon youth is only 15 years old -- he will turn 16 on Friday -- the state has discretion on whether to file adult certification papers. Given the "severity" of the accusations, Ms. Wardrop said, the state intended to file.
On Monday, Lori Olender, an assistant prosecutor who oversees the juvenile division, said she would file the certification by the end of the day, ahead of the teen's Thursday pretrial hearing. His trial is scheduled for Dec. 6.
According to juvenile court records, the teen had only one prior charge -- carrying a concealed weapon -- filed in October, 2011, but the charge was dismissed in January.
Police say the teen and a still-unidentified male shot the Richardson teen 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. The Richardson youth was treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Police were able to detain the teen and say they found a gold-colored gun in the boy's possession.
- Taylor Dungjen