A Columbus man could be facing a decade and a half in prison stemming from a Marysville incident and additional prison time for an alleged string of similar robberies.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Trayvonne Tramaine Jaquan Patterson, 28, of Columbus, charging him with one count each of robbery and theft and two counts of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer.
According to court documents, about 7:11 p.m., June 28, Patterson entered the local Home Depot on Colemans Crossing.
“Phillips said Patterson has “an alleged history with the store.”
He said Patterson allegedly put “a lot of items” into a cart and left without paying for them.
A Home Depot manager saw Patterson with a variety of tools that are typically locked. He waited at the front door and asked Patterson for a receipt. Patterson didn’t have a receipt and allegedly told the manager he knows the manager is not allowed to touch him. Patterson allegedly put his right shoulder into the manager’s chest, and ran over the manager’s foot with the cart.
Patterson allegedly put the stolen items into a red and black Hyundai and left, headed east.
“A Union County Sheriff’s Officer was in the area and attempted to stop Trayvonne, but he failed to comply,” according to court documents. “The pursuit was terminated.”
Home Depot asset protection reviewed video of the theft and were able to identify some of the items in the cart, totaling $1,572.
“Further, Home Depot asset protection identified Trayvonne from previous thefts,” according to court documents.
On July 13, Patterson allegedly rammed police officers in Hilliard with the same vehicle used in the theft in Marysville. Patterson was arrested and police determined the vehicle was stolen. At the time of the arrest, police found a pair of guns along with suspected narcotics in the car.
Phillips said Patterson’s assertion that the manager couldn’t touch him isn’t entirely accurate.
“As a policy, that is up to the store, but the law does give a store the right to detain someone accused of stealing,” Phillips said
If convicted, Patterson could face more than 15 years in prison.
Also indicted was:
-Alejandro Ramirez Espinal, 48, of 744 W. Fifth St.
Espinal is charged with two counts of felonious assault. According to court documents, about 9:06 p.m., July 10, Espinal was driving on Northwest Parkway at Honda Parkway.
“He allegedly drove head on into a semi,” Phillips said, adding that the semi driver told investigators he “tried to get over as far as he could to try to avoid the crash.”
Espinal was injured as a result of the crash. Phillips said it is reported that the man’s goal was to end his life.
“It doesn’t matter if he intended to hurt the other driver, it doesn’t matter what his intentions were, it matters what his actions were,” Phillips said, explaining that Espinal knew or should have known his actions were “likely to cause harm.”
He added, “you don’t ordinarily think of a car as a deadly weapon, but it is if you use it as a weapon.”
If convicted, Espinal could face as many as 16 years in prison.
-Steven Douglas Mercer, 28, of 26725 Fawley Road, Raymond. Mercer is charged with one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle.
According to court documents, on Sept. 24, Mercer took a 2004 Chevy Monte Carlo SS without permission.
If convicted, Mercer could face as many as 18 months in prison
-Todd Ryan Frey, 51, of 164 W. Second Ave., Plain City. Frey is charged with two counts each of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of a fentanyl-related compound.
According to court documents, the indictments stem from incidents alleged to have occurred Feb. 8 and April 30 incident involving methamphetamines and fentanyl. If convicted, Frey could face as many as 24 months in prison.