JACKSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio – A standoff with a 20-year-old suspected armed robbery ended peacefully after a Jackson Township police officer negotiated with him to lay down his gun and at one point told him: ‘You’re too young, bud. You’re too young. ‘
Rashawn Harper, 20, of Tennessee, was arrested and booked into Stark County Jail on the following charges:
- Serious robbery, a first-class crime
- Felonic assault, a second-degree offense
- With a hidden weapon, two counts, a fourth degree offense
- Weapons under disability, two charges, a third-degree offense
- Worse threat, first-class misconduct
- Receiving stolen goods (one firearm was stolen), a fourth degree offense
- Obstruction of official affairs, a fifth-degree offense
- Discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises, a third-degree offense
On Saturday, around 3 p.m., officers responded to a store on 5000 Fulton Drive Street for a report of an armed robbery.
While officers responded, officers learned that a witness to the robbery followed Harper, who was driving a vehicle with no visible license plates.
When Harper and the witness stopped at the intersection of Meadowview Drive and Everhard Road, Harper allegedly fired his gun at the witness and hit the front corner panel of the witness’ vehicle.
“He’s shooting at me! He has a gun!” said the 51-year-old woman, who sent Harper’s location to police.
Harper parked his vehicle in the 5400 block of Blackthorne Avenue NW, where a resident later told police that someone was running through the backyard to an old golf course, the officer said.
Officers located Harper in the 3600 block of Wackerly Drive, where he was sitting on a swing with a gun.
In footage of the body, one can hear one of the officers responding to Harper pleading to put down the gun.
“We can help you, man. We’re not going to hurt you. I promise you we will not hurt you. Put it down, ‘says an officer.
At one point in the video, the officer promised to get a therapist for Harper, who said he was not using his medication.
‘You throw that gun out there. I’m putting mine away and I’ll come talk to you. I promise you. We can help you. That’s not the way, ‘said the officer.
When Harper said he was old, the officer detained him to encourage him to put down the gun.
“Come on, bud, you need to talk to me. Dude, you’re 20. You’re still so young. Let’s go, dude, we do not want to do this. Just put it on. [gun] of, bud. We do not want to do that. You do not want to do that. You’re 20, ” the officer said.
After minutes of negotiation, Harper put down his gun and the officer who was negotiating with him came walking up and handcuffed him and continued the dialogue.
“What does it look like, man? Look at me. What’s going on?” Said the officer.
“I made terrible decisions,” Harper said.
“Why did you want to do that?” asked the officer.
“I did not want to do what I did,” said Harper, who was arrested. He remains in Stark County Jail.