Barberton man busted in Cleveland street takeover

John Alan Dietrich

By BOB MOREHEAD

BGNN senior staff writer

A 20-year-old Barberton man is among those arrested for a Cleveland street takeover.

John Alan Dietrich was indicted Oct. 11 for aggravated rioting, disrupting public service, inducing panic, arson and criminal damaging
related to a Sept. 15 takeover of the intersection of W 25th Street and Lorain Avenue in the North Coast.

The word from the Cleveland Police Department ends there, the agency claiming an ongoing investigation. Signal Cleveland Oct. 2 reported city council discussions that provide context. Nationwide, stunt drivers have spent the summer occupying streets, doing doughnuts in the roads and intersections while onlookers record the antics. Police said in those meetings that some onlookers had tried to start fires and others aimed firearms at passersby.

Beyond the indictments, it is unclear from what’s been made public where Dietrich fits into the milieu. He pleaded not guilty Oct. 17 and was freed on $10,000 bond.

Gauge M. Franklin, 18, of Akron, is listed as a co-defendant, according to court records. They both have pre-trial conferences set for Oct. 24, according to Cuyahoga County court filings online.