Members of the U.S. Marshals’ Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested two wanted men in northern Ohio on Friday, Oct. 23 — one in Cleveland and one in Norton — the U.S. Marshals Service announced. Jayden Lockett, 19, was wanted by the Cleveland Division of Police for aggravated murder, and Stephen Imler, 29, was wanted by the Stark County Sheriff’s Office for three counts of sexual battery and two counts of grooming, according to the Marshals.
Lockett was arrested at an address in the 5600 block of Hege Avenue in Cleveland, and a firearm was seized during the arrest, the Marshals said. His case traces to Sept. 29, when Cleveland police officers from the 5th District responded to a shots-fired call near the 1000 block of East 68th Street and found Cleveland EMS and Fire crews already aiding two men who had been shot while occupying a vehicle on East 55th Street.
A 22-year-old man suffered two gunshot wounds to the head and later died at the hospital, and a 21-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, was treated and eventually released, according to the Marshals’ account of the Cleveland police response. The aggravated murder charge against Lockett stems from that shooting.
Imler was arrested at an address in the 4600 block of Hametown Road in Norton, the Marshals said. Imler had been the band director and a music teacher at Northwest High School; he was placed on administrative leave on Aug. 18 following allegations and a police investigation regarding sexual battery and grooming allegations, and he officially resigned from the school on Sept. 2, according to the Marshals. He was later charged with three counts of sexual battery and two counts of grooming.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said the two arrests took dangerous offenders off the street. “These two violent offenders were taken off the streets today,” Elliott stated. “Our task force works tirelessly to arrest the most dangerous fugitives, like these, who prey on our communities and citizens.” Charges are allegations, and both men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Anyone with information about a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833) or submit a tip by email to [email protected]. The Marshals say reward money is available and tipsters may remain anonymous.
Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0