Updated 10 a.m. July 7
On June 18, prosecutors say a 17-year-old from Shaker Heights attacked a man outside of Anatolia Café, and the suspect had a hearing Wednesday.
He is now being held in the Juvenile Detention Center until his next court date, which is scheduled Aug. 1. He could be moved to adult court as a result of this meeting, said Ryan Miday, spokesperson for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason's office.
The 56-year-old victim was having dinner with his wife and two others at the restaurant on Lee Road before the attack occurred, Miday said. They saw a group of teens outside and decided to wait a few minutes before leaving.
When they walked out, the 17-year-old accused in the case jumped out from behind a bush, turned around to a group of his friends nearby and said, "Let's do them," Miday said.
The man told the group to back off, and he, his wife and two friends began to quickly walk away, trying to avoid a confrontation.
The man called 911 as they were walking away. The 17-year-old approached them again, and tried to grab the man's wallet. The man again called 911, and the teenager pulled out an object from his pants and hit the man's face with it. The man fell on the ground, and as he was lying there, the 17-year-old searched his pockets. The teen ran away, empty-handed.
Later, Cleveland Heights police came and arrested the suspect. The man who was attacked suffered broken bones on his face and had to have six stitches as a result of his injuries.
The 17-year-old suspect was charged with felonious assault and aggravated robbery. His pretrial hearing was at 8:30 a.m. July 6 in Judge Patrick Corrigan's courtroom in Juvenile Court.
The prosecutor's office filed motions to take the 17-year-old into custody and move him to adult court, Miday said.
"We file (these) charges when we believe the severity of the crime warrants trying the juvenile as an adult," Miday said, adding that other factors are taken into consideration as well.
The teen also has additional cases pending in Maple Heights, Miday said. He was charged with burglary and receiving stolen property in three burglaries, two on March 30 and one on March 31, and he is accused of stealing flat-screen TVs, shoes, a computer and other electronics and items.
