Man loads, shows gun at car show, then leads police on vehicle chase in Brook Park

BROOK PARK, Ohio – A Brunswick man, 32, pulled a handgun at about 9:30 p.m. May 19 outside Marc’s Deeper Discount Store, 5725 Smith Road, then fled the scene before police arrived.

A car show was taking place in the parking lot. As the man arrived, a 20-year-old man made a comment about his Tesla. The comment offended the older man, and the two men started arguing.

The older man returned to his Tesla, reached inside, grabbed a 9 mm firearm and loaded the weapon. He walked back toward the younger man and continued the argument.

When the older man learned that someone had called police, he jumped into his Tesla and sped away. As police arrived, several people pointed to the Tesla and shouted, “That’s him.”

Police activated their overhead lights and tried to pull over the Tesla but the man didn’t stop. He drove northbound on Smith past Brookpark Road into Cleveland, where Smith became West 150th Street.

Police terminated the pursuit near Interstate 71 due to traffic conditions, and for safety reasons. They were able to see the first three letters of the Tesla’s license plate.

Shortly afterward, police learned that a Tesla had crashed into a tree at West 150th and Lorain Avenue in Cleveland. The first three letters on the plate of that car were the same as the letters on the older man’s Tesla.

Cleveland police identified the driver of the Tesla that crashed and found a firearm in the vehicle. It’s unclear whether the man was arrested or injured at the time of the crash.

Brook Park police issued a warrant for the man’s arrest. He turned himself in May 22.