CLEVELAND — Two men accused of being involved in a "street takeover" in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood last month pleaded not guilty in Cuyahoga County court Thursday, court records show.
Gauge Franklin, 18 of Akron, and John Dietrich, 20 of Barberton, were indicted last week on multiple charges connected to an incident on West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue on Sept. 15.
Franklin and Dietrich were indicted on the following charges:
- One count of Aggravated Riot
- One count of Disrupting Public Services
- One count of Inducing Panic
- One count of Arson
- One count of Criminal Damaging or Endangering
Franklin and Dietrich both denied the charges in court Thursday. Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Judge John Russo issued personal bonds for both men set at $10,000. If the defendants are released on bond, they are subject to GPS home detention monitoring.
According to police, Franklin, Dietrich and a 17-year-old from Norton were involved in shutting down the intersection of West 25th and Lorain as about 20 vehicles created a roadblock, did donuts and prevented traffic from flowing. Police say the blockade slowed down an ambulance on its way to a hospital.
The three are also accused of lighting a ring of fire at the intersection that several "unidentified participants" stood inside during the street takeover. According to the prosecutor's office, Franklin drove Dietrich and the 17-year-old to the intersection, then the 17-year-old took a fire accelerant out of the car and poured it in a circle before Dietrich lit the fire. An arrest warrant for the 17-year-old was issued last week.