UPDATE 1:34 p.m.

The Summit County Medical Examiner has identified the man shot by police today as Dawayne Lavar Grant Sr., 35, of Mapledale Avenue in Akron. Police say Grant was driving a van that refused a traffic stop and led officers on a low-speed chase this morning, then pulled a gun on officers and refused to drop it before he was shot. He died a short time later at a local hospital.

Akron police Captain Dan Zampelli says Grant was not carrying any ID, and the van he was driving is registered to another individual. Police say they do not know why he was attempting to evade them during the traffic stop and chase, or why he pulled a weapon when the chase ended and he was confronted on foot.

Previous coverage:

Akron police officers were involved in a deadly shooting this morning.

Captain Dan Zampelli says it happened shortly after 7 a.m. when the driver of a van led police on a low-speed chase after he refused to pull over during a traffic stop.

An officer confronted the armed suspect after he ran behind a house in the 1400 block of Dietz Avenue. The man then pointed a gun at the officer and refused to drop the weapon after several requests.

Zampelli says two officers fired shots at the individual.

The victim was was taken to a local hospital where he later died, according to Zampelli. The identity of the man is unknown at this time.

"Our priority now is identifying who he is, so maybe that can help determine why he was running from the officers," Zampelli said.

AkronNewsNow's Chris Keppler talked to a few of the neighbors, who used words like "nice," "safe" and "quiet" to describe their part of Firestone Park.

The shooting remains under investigation.

Akron Police say a motorist who was allegedly texting while driving, caused a crash on Waterloo Road that caused a serious head injury to a juvenile and a skull fracture to another victim.

Peter J Hooley, 31, of Hartville was charged with 2 counts of Aggravated Vehicular Assault and Assured Clear Distance.

Police say Hooley caused a rear-end crash by striking the vehicle in front of him at over 50 mph.

They are some of west Akron's nicest neighborhoods, but since the middle of June they've been the target of bold burglars who strike early in the morning or in broad daylight while the homeowners are away at work.

Ward 8 Councilwoman Marilyn Keith tells AkronNewsNow the burglars are breaking into homes and garages in a several block area including the Portage Path, Merriman Road, Delaware and Ridgecrest neighborhoods " There has been an African-American and a white gentleman on bicycles, very clean cut, so they wouldn't surprise you if you saw them in the neighborhood."

The thieves kick in back doors or take the garage door openers from cars in the driveway to gain easier access through the garages and into the homes.

Keith has this advice for residents in the affected neighborhoods." There's been a rash of them breaking into the cars. We want owners to make sure their cars are locked and even after they lock them to take in their garage door openers, because this gives the burglars immediate access for getting into the house. Keep those bottom windows locked in your house. In fact they say to keep your car keys next to your night stand and hit your car alarm if you hear an intruder or something going on."

Marilyn Keith confirms that one burglary around 4 a.m. was foiled when the family dog alerted the homeowner, who scuffled with the suspect before the invader fled.

Keith says Akron Police have been working to catch the thieves. " They have a special unit working on it, and they have some undercover cars in the area now, along with detectives doing what they need to do. And they've also caught a few people. We don't think we've got em all yet."

Keith says neighbors in the affected area have also been e-mailing each other if they observe any suspicious activities around their homes. " I think the more people who communicate this way get the information immediately, and the Akron Police Department is able to put these pieces of the puzzle together," says Keith.

She says residents need to be aware of any suspicious acvtivity, because the burglars have been seen riding their bicycles into driveways to check out possible future break-in targets. 

After a two-month investigation into illegal drug sales, Akron Police have arrested a couple accused of making synthetic marijuana that they sold through the window of a drive-thru on Akron's southeast side.

Akron Police vice and narcotics officers executed a search warrant late Friday night at the South Street Drive-Thru. Officers believed both Michael and Lori Sullivan who own the drive-thru were making drugs inside the store and at their home on North Arlington Street.

Police say they made the drugs while their 15-month old child was nearby. The child is currently in the custody of the Summit County Child Services.

During the search, Detectives recovered 27 packs of synthetic marijuana, over $1,500 in cash and two handguns from the drive-thru. They also recovered 109 packs of synthetic marijuana, two handguns, a rifle, a shotgun, body armor, over 1,200 rounds of ammunition, and other items used to make synthetic marijuana at their home.

The Sullivans, both 23, were arrested on various drug-related charges and child endangering.

52-year old Suzanne Eakin, the mother of Lori Sullivan, is also facing drug and child endangering charges as well.

Also arrested were brothers Joey and Joshua Jarvis who are facing drug-related charges according to police.

Akron police and the family of a missing Firestone Park man are asking for your help locating him.  Jorry Palm, 28, has not been seen or heard from in about three weeks.  Akron Police Lt. Rick Edwards says there are usually more clues with missing children or missing elderly, but this case has been slow.

"On this one, after June 9th at 6:14 in the morning, there is no contact," said Edwards.  "There's been no contact with any friends, no Facebook, not showing up for work - which is unusual in his situation."

"I'm a dad and I just want my son home," said Steve Palm, Jorry's father.  "I'm hoping for a great reunion."

According to police, Jorry went to Tiny's Tavern in the Ellet area, then wound up at Karam's in Firestone Park.  Police say Palm then stopped at an ATM and later used his cell phone at 6:14 a.m. in the Niles area.  Palm says it doesn't make sense for his son to just walk away with no contact.

"There's not one person who has said this is like him," said Palm. 

Palm is an engineer at Lockheed Martin.  His car has not been spotted either.

The Niles Police Department and the FBI are also involved in the investigation.  Also, the Palm family has a website with more information:  www.findjorry.com

Previous coverage: Akron Police Seek Missing Adult

Diamonds are a girl's best friend right? An Akron woman took that concept too far.

Sitting in the slammer on grand theft charges, Luella M. Conley, 24, of Akron admitted to Akron Police that she stole $70,000 worth of diamonds from her employer Sterling Jewelers.

She stuffed her jewelry stash with heart earrings and ruby and blue sapphire accessories during her four to five month stint with the company off of Ghent Road.

She's expected to appear in court today for her arraignment.

The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office has identified a man killed in an overnight shooting outside of a nightclub.

He's being identified as 36 year-old Donnie Chatman of Akron.

The Medical Examiner's Office says Chatman's death was a homicide, caused by gunshot wounds to the chest.

The Akron Police Department says Chatman was shot multiple times in the parking lot of Club Wonder on West Bowery Street, at about 1:20 a.m. early Saturday. He was transported to Akron General Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at just after 5 a.m.

Police list his last known address on Blanche Street in Akron. The Medical Examiner's Office listed Chatman's address on Rhodes Avenue.

The case is still under investigation.

An Atwater couple was going to check out a car advertised on Craigslist Tuesday night, but ended up getting more than they bargained for.

Around 9:00pm Tuesday night, the couple went to a home on West Exchange Street to look at the car when they were met by three men in the driveway.

As the couple walked back towards the garage to see the car, the men allegedly pulled out handguns and robbed the couple of $450.00 in cash. No injuries were reported.

Police say the men took off through back yards in the neighborhood.

The couple then drove to a nearby gas station and called police.

The suspects described as three black males, 18 – 20 years old. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact police. 

Akron Police are searching for a man who they say sprayed a grocery store worker with pepper spray before taking off with money from the cash register.

A cashier  at the Aldi’s on South Main Street. told police the incident occurred around 7:15 p.m. Tuesday when she says the man walked up to the register to pay for a can of soup. As she opened up the register police say rthe man sprayed her with pepper spray.

While the cashier was temporarily blinded, the man allegedly took an unreported amount of money from the register and took off on foot.

Captain Zampelli says police only have a vague description of the man they're looking for, saying he is a black man between the ages of 16 and 24.

He was last seen fleeing southbound on S.Main St.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Akron Police.
 

Three separate robberies that took place Monday night and Tuesday morning have Akron Police searching for suspects.

Around 6 p.m Monday night two men  say they were robbed while sitting outside a home on Vincent Street in the Kenmore area were robbed of cash by a group of armed teens.

Akron Police Captain Dan Zampelli says the alleged robbers are described as 4-5 black teenagers between 14-17 years old.

The second incident occurred around 9:30 p.m when a 50-year old man was robbed while trying to purchase some marijuana from a pair of men.

Akron Police say the pair took off with the man's money as the alleged victim was clinging to the side of the car.

Finally, around 1:30 Tuesday morning two men who were sitting on the steps of Portage Path Elementary when they tell Akron Police they were attacked by two men armed with a gun and a Taser.

The men were struck with the Taser and robbed of cash and their cell phones.

Anyone with information about any of the robberies is asked to call Akron police.