$2 million bond set for robbery suspect

The Euclid man accused in at least seven robberies across three counties is facing his first set of charges.

David Johnson, 32, is being held in the Geauga County Jail after being arraigned Jan. 31 in Chardon Municipal Court.

He is facing two counts of first-degree felony aggravated robbery.

He is accused of armed robberies at a Parkman Township BP gas station and a Chardon Township Dollar General.

Those robberies occurred Jan. 18.

Geauga County Prosecutor James Flaiz said that the various agencies involved in the cases are putting together their reports and finishing their investigations, but Geauga authorities wanted to bring charges against Johnson now so he can be held on bond.

“In our opinion, he represents a threat to the citizens of the area,” Flaiz said in a Feb. 3 phone interview.

Johnson is accused of using violence in the string of robberies. During a Jan. 16 Perry Township Marathon gas station convenience store robbery Johnson allegedly held down a female customer against the counter as he demanded cash from an employee.

After the employee provided the suspect with the available cash, he then allegedly forcibly moved the female customer away from the counter and pushed her out the front door in front of him while continuing to hold the gun. He released the victim after leaving the store.

At a Jan. 30 press conference, authorities said that Johnson was on parole for a number of charges including a 2005 involuntary manslaughter out of Cuyahoga County. He is also on federal probation related to a firearms charge, according to authorities.

Flaiz said he has been in contact with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.

Johnson was arrested Jan. 29 at his Euclid home, according to authorities. During a search of a vehicle and his home authorities located the skeleton mask, a pair of work gloves, a handgun and other items that matched the descriptions of the robberies. He is also accused of two robberies in Euclid, one in Cleveland and one in Willoughby.

Willoughby Detective Lt. James Schultz accused the suspect of becoming more aggressive as the string of robberies continued.

During the Jan. 25 robbery of the 37277 Euclid Ave. Dollar General, Johnson allegedly ordered a cashier to get on her hands and knees and pointed a gun at her head.

The law enforcement agencies involved credited interdepartmental cooperation

“Our main goal was to keep our communities safe,” Schultz said.

Johnson