CORRECTION: Lakewood Man Charged With Robbing Classmate at Gunpoint Near Elementary School

Correction: According to the Lakewood Police Department, the incident took place on Merl Avenue, just west of Jackson Avenue — not on school grounds as reported in an earlier story. Also, there was only one victim in the alleged robbery, a classmate of the suspect. An error was made during the editing process.

School officials are trying to figure out what to do next following an armed robbery near the grounds of an elementary school in the district last month.

Kevin Hamilton, 18, Lakewood, was arraigned last week on charges that he robbed an Adult Basic Literacy (ABLE) Program classmate at gunpoint, a couple blocks south of  on Feb. 15, said  Chief Tim Malley.

Reports indicate that Emerson students were out on the school grounds when the robbery occurred, near the intersection of Merl and Jackson avenues. According to police, the victim was robbed of a small amount of money and cigarettes. 

The district was allowing the ABLE program to use the elementary school at 13439 Clifton Blvd. to conduct its classes.

School officials are now working to move the program to a school that’s currently not in use.

During Monday’s Board of Education meeting,  updated the public on how school officials are responding.

“I know that (Rick) Berdine and some of the other folks in our organization have taken a look at different options in terms of the ABLE program,” Patterson said.

“In my understanding, is that it will be moved over spring break and our staff is working diligently to do that…We’re looking at moving that program to the Taft (Elementary School) mods.”

Hamilton is being held downtown at the Cuyahoga County jail, after pleading not guilty to charges of aggravated robbery. His bail was set at $50,000.