Suspects charged with breaking into local Kia dealership, stealing vehicle

ERIE COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) – Vandalism, breaking and entering, and theft are just some of the charges two suspects from the Detroit-area face after allegedly stealing a vehicle from Halleen Kia Thursday morning.

Owner Mark Halleen said alarms were triggered by two people breaking into his dealership on Milan Road at 4:30 a.m.

Local law enforcement quickly moved to the scene of the crime.

“A deputy got there within about a minute of the alarm and found a window broken out and indication that someone could still be in the building,” Erie County Sheriff Paul Sigsworth said.

Deputies noticed not one but two vehicles exiting the dealership. Sigsworth said the suspects are a man and a woman on a multi-state crime spree.

“They had vandalized several cars, stole a number of items from the dealership and, in fact, had stolen a vehicle from the dealership,” he said.

One suspect was driving in a stolen Kia Soul from Michigan and the other in a Jeep Compass taken from Halleen Kia. The pursuit lasted a few minutes but spanned a few miles.

“Probably the worst thing is the pursuit because they’re endangering everyone else on the road,” Sigsworth said.

The pursuit of the Compass ended abruptly, as the male suspect hopped the curb, blew out the tires and crashed into the fence of the Ohio Veteran’s Home on Columbus Avenue in Sandusky.

“The male, also during the course of the pursuit, after he crashed, illegally entered the Ohio Veterans Home property,” Sigsworth said. “So he stole some property there while he was running.”

The female suspect, later identified as Laniya Askew, was detained after a short foot pursuit by Perkins Township police. The male, identified as Lajuan Jefferson, was arrested near the Ohio Veterans Home.

They are facing charges for felony theft, vandalism and breaking and entering. Both are being held at the Erie County Jail.

“Great teamwork,” Sigsworth said. “I can’t say enough about the efforts of the Perkins Township Police Department to immediately pursue these individuals and get them into custody.”

At least three additional vehicles were damaged, according to the police report.

No one was hurt during the pursuit.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.