Northeast Ohio man gives alias of slain friend to police in ordeal for shooting victim's parents

3/16/2014

AKRON — Police in northeast Ohio say a man tried to avoid arrest during traffic stops by identifying himself with the name of a slain former friend.

Authorities say Drew Redington caused an ordeal for the parents of the shooting victim, 17-year-old Jeffrey Gardner Jr., when they received letters about warrants for their dead son.

Gardner’s parents tell the Akron Beacon Journal they spent weeks trying to convince deputies and court officials the recent letters were mistaken. They say they were even more troubled to learn the wanted man was a friend who witnessed Gardner’s shooting in 2007.

Sheriff’s deputies used vehicle registration information from a traffic stop to clear up the confusion last week and identify the man as the 28-year-old Redington.

Redington’s attorney said Friday that she couldn’t comment.