Toledo murder suspect found hiding in doghouse
Belmont Avenue man accused in fatal Oct. 5 shooting
3/30/2013The U.S. Marshals found Jonathon Johnson, a murder suspect, hiding in a doghouse Friday, officials said.
Mr. Johnson, 23, of 1659 Belmont Ave. is the third man to be charged in the Oct. 5 shooting death of Jonathan Morris, Jr., 22.
The murder charge against Mr. Johnson was filed Thursday afternoon in Toledo Municipal Court.
Friday morning, the U.S. Marshals went to Mr. Johnson’s mother’s home in the 800 block of Dorr Street to arrest the suspect, but as she opened a front door, the suspect jumped out a second-story window, officials said.
“The chase was on,” Toledo police Sgt. Joe Heffernan said.
Police surrounded the central-city neighborhood as the suspect ran, losing both of his shoes as he fled.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Rodney Hartzell said officers did a “slow search” for the suspect and, after a little more than 30 minutes, found him hiding in a wooden doghouse in the 800 block of Johnson Street near Belmont Avenue.
The chase, which started at about 9:35 a.m., covered five city blocks and about a mile, Mr. Hartzell said.
Mr. Johnson did not put up a struggle once he was taken into custody. He was held in the Lucas County jail without bond, pending arraignment.
After Mr. Morris was killed last fall, police charged Andrew Goetz of 614 Earl St. and Chaz Jackson of 1158 Clark St., both 28, with aggravated murder, murder, and aggravated robbery, all with gun specifications.
Mr. Johnson and Leon Jefferson, 28, of 1543 Craigwood Rd., were charged with obstructing official business.
Sergeant Heffernan said the ongoing investigation gave police enough information to charge Mr. Johnson with murder.
Family of Mr. Goetz and Mr. Jackson described the two men as longtime friends. It’s not clear how the two might know Mr. Johnson or Mr. Jefferson, police said.
Mr. Morris was shot three times outside Ravine Park Village, in the 2300 block of Seaman Road.