EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio — The police pursuit that resulted in a 13-year-old girl being hit in East Cleveland has been under scrutiny since the incident happened in late December.
Now, recently released body camera video and 911 calls are giving the public a closer look at what happened that afternoon.
According to police reports, the incident started on Cleveland’s west side with an alleged carjacking carried out by two suspects.
“I am in the West 117th parking lot of Target and somebody just stuck a gun to my face and took my car and my purse,” the victim told a 911 dispatcher.
Police arrived on scene and took the woman’s information while an off-duty police officer, who witnessed the robbery, followed the vehicle.
“They robbed her,” the officer told another 911 dispatcher. “She was trying to get into the car but they went to both sides of the car…I’m following the car now.”
The 911 call goes on for nearly 20 minutes as the suspects fled eastbound on I90 then downtown, crossing Carnegie and Chester.
Eventually another police car follows the stolen vehicle from street to street, reaching speeds of more than 70 miles per hour into East Cleveland.
Shortly after the off-duty officer stops his pursuit, you can hear the dispatcher mention a pedestrian had been struck.
Reports state 13-year-old Tamia Chappman was struck by the 15-year-old who stole the vehicle. She died from her injuries.
The teenager is facing juvenile charges of murder, aggravated robbery and robbery but has denied those charges.