Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Police Still Looking for 1 Suspect in Home Invasion, Rape

Two of three suspects have been arrested. Now police are looking for Erick Howard, 20, of North Canton

Police have arrested two men they believe were involved in the Aug. 20 in the 1100 block of Sunford Avenue, but one man still is missing.

are looking for Erick M. Howard, 20, of North Canton, who faces charges of aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; rape, a first-degree felony; and theft, a fifth-degree felony.

Already arrested are Michael A. Taylor of North Canton, who turned himself in Wednesday, and Seth. R. Obermiller, 19, of North Canton, who turned himself in this morning.

Taylor faces charges of complicity to commit theft, a fifth-degree felony; and complicity to commit aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony. Police say Taylor drove the getaway car, while Obermiller and Howard burglarized the residence and raped the female resident. Obermiller faces charges identical to Howard's.

that two men had broken into the couple's Meadowbrook Apartments home through the basement window. They woke up the couple, pointed handguns in their faces, duct taped their hands and feet and taped over their mouths. They demanded their cellphones and stole $1,000 cash, a pair of earrings and other belongings before leaving in a car.

The woman told police she also had been raped. She was taken to Mercy Medical Center, where she was treated and released shortly after.

Police later said the after they found scales, baggies and marijuana in their home. Police Chief Stephan Wilder said the department no longer is pursuing charges and is focusing on the suspects.

Wilder said the suspects likely knew the victims, and the burglary seemed to revolve around drug money.

“I believe that one or two of these young men had associated with the boyfriend at the residence that they burglarized,” he said.

Wilder credited his officers and detectives as well as informed citizens in the arrest of the two men.

“I give a lot of credit to the officers on the street and the citizens who gave us information or tidbits of information,” he said. “And Detective (Randy) Manse really put this thing together. He pursued a lot of different leads. … He was a really good investigator on this.”


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