A Lake County grand jury has indicted a trio of Chicago-area residents on charges stemming from a series of alleged distraction burglaries.
Rudy Miller, Rocky Mason and Apple Miller, 26, were all indicted on multiple charges stemming from the alleged burglaries, which took place in several Lake County communities Aug. 9.
Rudy Miller, 29, and Mason, 28, are both facing charges of first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, two counts of second-degree felony burglary, according to Lake County Common Pleas Court records. Rudy Miller is also facing a charge of third-degree felony failure to comply with an order or signal of police.
Apple Miller, 26, is also facing a first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity charge, along with three counts of second-degree felony complicity to burglary.
All three are scheduled to be arraigned in Lake County Common Pleas Court Oct. 9, court records show.
On Aug. 9, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office first responded to a Concord Township home for a report of a distraction burglary.
The 73-year-old homeowner told deputies that a black sedan, possibly a Dodge, pulled into the driveway as the resident was working in her yard, according to an Aug. 10 news release from the sheriff’s office. Two males exited the vehicle and claimed there had been a water main break in the area.
One of the men began talking to the resident while the other began walking to the door of the residence. Despite the resident’s verbal refusal to allow him into the residence, the man walking toward the door allegedly entered the home. Eventually the resident entered her home and found the man walking throughout the house.
The men then left the area in the black sedan. The resident reported that a charm bracelet was missing from her jewelry box, according to the release.
Later the department responded to two separate distraction burglary calls in Leroy Township. Nothing was stolen in either incident, according to the news release.
Pennsylvania State Police also reported a similar distraction burglary with men fitting the description of the Lake County incidents and also driving a Dodge with an out-of-state temporary registration.
The Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office also reported a similar distraction burglary the same day with suspects fitting the same description in a black Dodge.
Shortly after the Ashtabula County incident, Madison Township police located the suspected vehicle, a black 2012 Dodge Challenger with an Indiana temporary registration. Madison Township police called for assistance and followed the car to a BP gas station on Vrooman Road.
Once the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio Highway Patrol arrived, the suspect vehicle allegedly fled, almost striking a Sheriff’s Office cruiser. A pursuit ended westbound on Interstate 90. Mentor police deployed spikes near the Route 615 exit, according to the release. The suspect vehicle allegedly continued to flee at a high rate of speed and police lost sight of it near the Route 615 exit from Interstate 90.
A short time later, an Uber driver said he was called to pick up two men and a woman in Garfield Park in Mentor. The Uber driver arrived and picked the three up from a black Dodge Challenger, according to the release.
The Uber driver had been scanning police channels and heard a pursuit involving a black Dodge. The driver took the three and dropped them off near a hotel on Route 306 after refusing their offer of $500 to drive them to Chicago. The Uber driver called 911.
All three occupants of the Dodge Challenger were detained and the car was impounded, according to the release. Evidence from several of the incidents was allegedly later located inside the vehicle, including the safe, money and jewelry.
All three are being held in the Lake County Jail in lieu of $1 million bonds with a 10 percent option set Aug. 12 by Painesville Municipal Court Judge Paul R. Malchesky.
On Aug. 12, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office presented the Uber driver, Steven Baker, with an “Outstanding Citizen Award.” Lake County Sheriff Frank Leonbruno stated in a Facebook post announcing the award that Baker was “instrumental in identifying” the three allegedly involved in the distraction burglaries.
“(Baker’s) bravery in placing (his) own safety second over the welfare of others deserves the recognition and appreciation of this community,” the award states. “We thank you for your outstanding efforts!”
