Former fugitive sentenced in Euclid case

A man who was fired at by an off-duty officer after allegedly fleeing from Euclid police was sentenced Sept. 23 in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court to four years in prison.

Brandon Cleveland, 26, was apprehended by the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force June 23 in the area of 1840 Alcoy Ave. in Cleveland.

The incident began around midnight May 27 at Richmond Hills Apartments, when an off-duty officer working as a uniformed security guard at the Euclid Avenue complex noticed the smell of marijuana coming from a parked vehicle.

According to Euclid police:

The passenger in the car was detained without incident. But Cleveland — the driver — fled on foot after exiting the car while armed with a handgun.

The off-duty officer felt “threatened” by the suspect’s actions and fired several rounds from his issued sidearm at Cleveland.

After searching the area, police found a loaded handgun in the path where the suspect fled. Police did not find any evidence that the suspect was struck by gunfire.

The off-duty officer who fired at the suspect has returned to work after being put on paid administrative leave per departmental policy.

Cleveland previously pleaded guilty before Judge Peter J. Corrigan to felony charges of attempted assault, obstructing official business, having weapons while under disability and improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle. He also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor attempted trafficking count.

Cleveland