I-Team: Suspected store vandal arrested in Cleveland comes back later that night, owner says

CLE VELAND (WJW) — Video released to the FOX 8 I-Team shows violent chaos at a corner store.

Now, the owner is speaking out, saying the justice system failed.

Azhar Khan told us he saw police take away a suspect. Then he saw the same guy come back to do more damage the same night.

It happened last week at Lakeshore Gas, a business on Lakeshore Boulevard in Cleveland. Security video shows a man with a large knife. He threatened people and ransacked the store.

Employees held him at gunpoint for Cleveland police.

But the store owner said the same guy somehow came back soon after, tearing up the place from the outside.

“But we were kind of amazed to see him in an hour-and-a-half, back again, on the street giving us a message — you know, ‘I’m here again. What you gonna do about it?’” Khan said.

A police report shows a man with a knife had trouble with some guys. Then he went wild. Police said they sent the suspect to the hospital for a mental health evaluation.

But hours later, there was another encounter at the store. The owner is not happy with police response the second time.

“He had a different outfit when he comes back. But, we’re 110% sure it’s the same guy. It scares us to the point — I mean, we’re helpless,” Khan said.

As for the police response for the man doing damage outside, a report shows an alarm company first called Cleveland police about glass breaking.

Thirty-six minutes later, the store owner called police reporting he was watching a man causing damage with a baseball bat. Police said dispatchers then upgraded the call to a higher priority. Officers got there within 10 minutes, police said.

This has left City Council Public Safety Chairman Michael Polensek furious. It happened in his ward. He tells everyone to call 911.

“The system is broken. They need to evaluate everything,” he said. “I expect them to get service, I expect them to get results, and I don’t want to hear any excuses anymore. My diplomacy’s gone.”

Police said they’re investigating.

The suspect took off before officers arrived a second time.

Police said they want to confirm the same man is to blame for both incidents.

But there’s no doubt in the mind of the store owner. Khan said he also has no doubt this should’ve never happened twice in just hours.

“But, it does scare us, a lot. Employees were scared for their life,” he said.

Police said the man believed to be the suspect also went back to the store on another day. Then he got shot and wounded in the neighborhood.

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