23-year-old man indicted for stealing van from Amazon driver, killing 70-year-old doctor in wrong way crash

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - A 23-year-old Cleveland man was indicted Tuesday for stealing a van from an Amazon driver, fleeing from police and crashing the van, ultimately killing a 70-year-old doctor in Cleveland Heights.

The doctor, identified by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner as Dr. Curtis Birchall, died Dec.

6 following a Cleveland Heights Police pursuit that ended with a wrong-way crash on I-90 in Cleveland.

Cleveland Heights Police said the chase began after the suspect stole the Enterprise van from an Amazon driver at gunpoint around 7:18 p.m. from the 3800 block of Summit Park Road in Cleveland Heights.

During the initial chase, one of the officers reported hearing several shots fired.

Police said the van then entered I-90 eastbound going the wrong direction.

When the van crashed near the Fulton Road overpass bridge around 8 p.m., police said the suspect ran away but was arrested a short time later

Police identified the driver has Jaylen Jackson, 23, of Cleveland.

Jaylen Jackson(Bingel, Julia | (Source: Cleveland Heights police))

"This case is truly tragic and shows Mr. Jackson's complete disregard for human life," said Prosecutor Michael C.

O'Malley. "One man just trying to do his job was carjacked, countless people were put in danger, and another man - who had dedicated his life to helping others - died as a direct result of the defendant's actions."

According to police, Jackson also had a warrant for his arrest from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's office on a weapons charge.

Police added a gun was recovered from the scene.

On December 12, Jackson was indicted on the following charges:

Two counts of Murder
One count of Involuntary Manslaughter
One count of Aggravated Robbery
Three counts of Felonious Assault
One count of Failure to Comply with an Order or Signal of a Police Officer
One count of Discharge of Firearm On or Near Prohibited Premises
One count of Having Weapons While Under Disability
One count of Vehicular Assault

He will be arraigned at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center at a later date.

Neither the robbery victim or any police officers were injured.