TALLMADGE: A taxi driver who was refueling at a Tallmadge Circle gas station early Saturday fended off an attempted armed robbbery and provided identifying information that led to four arrests, Tallmadge police said.
When approached at 5:30 a.m. by a masked person brandishing a knife and demanding money, the 41-year-old Akron man doused the suspect with gasoline, police said. The suspect and two others fled in a tan Honda; the victim took note of the license plate.
In the resulting investigation, a 17-year-old and Abdul-Fattah Sallora, 19, both of Tallmadge, were arrested at a residence in the 900 block of Norton Drive. A second juvenile was located in the 400 block of Helena Drive, where the license plate returned. During the arrests, evidence was found linking the 17-year-old and an adult male to three drive-by shootings that occurred last week in Tallmadge. Occupied homes on Antone Drive, Treat Boulevard and Newton Street were struck by gunfire from a moving vehicle, but no one was injured.
The 17-year-old robbery suspect is also alleged to have shot at all three houses. He is incarcerated at the Summit County Juvenile Detention facility along with the 16 year old who was present during the robbery. Adam J. Zesiger, 18, of Tallmadge is charged with three counts of complicity in the shootings. He was allegedly the driver and has been incarcerated in the Summit County Jail. Sallora is in the Summit County Jail charged with complicity and conspiracy in the robbery case. He and Zesiger will have initial appearances in Stow Municipal Court on Monday.