CRIME

3 teens charged in burglary, gun theft

Trio reportedly had been planning an armed robbery

Craig Shoup
The News-Messenger
William Kistler, Michail Harvey

YORK TOWNSHIP - A juvenile and two other teens charged with stealing a gun in Norwalk and electronics from a York Township group home told police they intended on committing an armed robbery before they were arrested last week.

The teens are alleged by Sandusky County Sheriff's Office Major Nick Kotsopoulos to have stolen several items from the group home where they formerly lived in York Township.

Among the items stolen were a safe, tablets, Chromebook computers, video games and TVs that the group home's owner provided for the teens living in the home.

Michail Harvey

Emmanuel Brown Jr., 16, Michail Harvey, 19, and William Kistler, 18, were arrested Thursday after two weeks of investigating by detectives in the Sandusky County Sheriff's Office and the Norwalk Police Department.

Kotsopoulos said the teens are alleged to have entered the group home on Sept. 2 and stole the items.

The three also were suspects in Norwalk for the theft of a 9 mm pistol from a vehicle, according to Kotsopoulos, who said one suspect told police during questioning that the trio intended to commit an armed robbery with the gun, but did not specify the location.

William Kistler

Kotsopoulos said Brown, the juvenile, faces the most serious charges, with felony burglary, safe cracking, tampering and receiving stolen property for stealing the gun as his primary charges.

Reported as a missing juvenile out of Fairfield County, Brown was located by authorities hiding under the basement stairs in a York Township home.

Harvey, arrested by Norwalk Police, was charged with fifth-degree felony possession of criminal tools and breaking and entering, and misdemeanor charges of theft and obstructing official business before being booked into the Huron County Jail.

Kistler, who was booked in the Sandusky County Jail, has been charged with a fourth-degree felony county of receiving stolen property. 

Pending a grand jury indictment, all three could face additional charges, Kotsopoulos said. 

The stolen items recovered by the sheriff's office have been returned to the group home owner, police said.

cshoup@gannett.com

419-334-1035

Twitter: @CraigShoupNH