Teenager, 17, arraigned in strangulation of Toledo man

1/16/2010

A teenager was arraigned yesterday in Lucas County Juvenile Court for the murder of a central Toledo man whose body was found in his apartment Thursday evening.

Rashaad Sultan, 17, of 3616 Nearing Ave. was arraigned on one count each of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery in the death of Brian Robinson.

He is being held in the Lucas County Juvenile Detention Center pending a probable-cause hearing Jan. 29 in juvenile court.

Police and firefighters found Mr. Robinson's body at 8:50 p.m. on the floor of his apartment at 494 Martin Lane in the McClinton Nunn Homes public housing complex. They had been summoned by a friend of Mr. Robinson's, Toledo Police Capt. Ray Carroll said.

Police said Mr. Robinson, 46, was lying in a pool of blood and appeared badly beaten. The cause of death, however, was strangulation, according to Dr. Diane Barnett, deputy Lucas County Coroner. A cord was wrapped around his neck and he was bleeding from the face and head.

The Sultan youth knew Mr. Robinson and took his cell phone and other items from the home, Captain Carroll said.

The teenager has an aggravated menacing charge pending against him in juvenile court. In 2008, he was found delinquent for felony car theft and placed on probation. Other, earlier charges, including petty theft and domestic violence, were dismissed.

Neighbors in the 400 block of Martin said Mr. Robinson moved into the complex this summer. He lived alone.