Police arrest suspect involved in gun store robbery

by Laura Bednar

Police have arrested 19-year-old Zaveeyon Teasley, of Cleveland, in connection with the Summit Armory break-in and robbery. The store is located on N. Cleveland-Massillon Road in Bath, south of Everett Road, and is owned by Richfield resident Tim Ostrander.

On Nov. 3, a stolen vehicle drove into Summit Armory gun store. Three suspects were seen in masks and gloves entering the store and firearms were stolen.

According to a Jan. 12 press release from the Bath Township Police Department, Teasley was arrested after Bath Township detectives executed a search warrant on Jan. 11 at a Cleveland residence. He was charged with the federal offense of theft of a firearm from a licensed gun dealer.

Police Chief Vito Sinopoli said shortly after the Nov. 3 incident, Bath Police, along with the Cleveland Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, learned that Teasley had been stopped in Cuyahoga County and was in a stolen vehicle. He was also in possession of one gun connected to the gun store break-in. After Bath Police, CPD and ATF reviewed evidence, including DNA samples, there was ultimately enough information for a search warrant.

Through interviewing witnesses and working with the ATF, which had recovered some of the guns, police followed the investigative lead and connected a 16-year-old male and an 18-year-old male to the crime. Both of the suspects were also from Cleveland.

The 16-year-old is facing charges with the Summit County Prosecutor’s Juvenile Division and the 18-year-old was involved in a shooting incident in November 2022, which resulted in fatal injuries, according to the release. The gun involved in the shooting incident was not connected to the gun store.

Thus far, five guns have been recovered out of a total of about 30, according to Sinopoli. He said Bath Police, CPD and the ATF are trying to locate the remaining guns and also determining what role each suspect played in the robbery including prior knowledge of the store and why they chose that particular location.

Sinopoli said the police feel confident that the three suspects from the incident have been identified. He added that anyone who uses any of the remaining stolen guns is also considered a suspect moving forward. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Bath Township Police Department Det. Michael Gabel at 330-666-3736. ∞