CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that Gauge Franklin, 19, (from Akron) and John Dietrich, 20, (from Barberton), were both sentenced to one year in prison for participating in a street takeover on West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue on September 15, 2024.

“I applaud Judge John Russo for sentencing Gauge Franklin and John Dietrich to one year in prison. They made the idiotic decision to participate in a street takeover, which endangered all who traveled the roads that night. With this prison sentence, it should send a stern message to anyone who thinks about engaging in this activity in the future.”

Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

On September 15, 2024, around 2:30 a.m. Gauge Franklin, John Dietrich, and a 17-year-old male attended and participated in illegally shutting down the intersection of West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue. Approximately 20 vehicles (including electronic scooters and electronic bikes) created a roadblock, participated in donuts in the intersection, and blocked off the intersection to traffic, including slowing down an ambulance from proceeding to the hospital. In addition, a fire accelerant was poured in a circle at the intersection and a fire was lit. The Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) responded to the scene.

Further investigation conducted by CDP revealed that Gauge Franklin drove his 1992 Ford Explorer to the intersection along with John Dietrich and the 17-year-old male. The 17-year-old male took the fire accelerant out of Gauge’s Explorer and poured the fire accelerant in a circle. Afterward, John Dietrich lit the fire. Additional unidentified participants stood inside the ring after the fire was lit. The fire accelerant was placed back inside Gauge’s Explorer. Franklin, Dietrich, and the 17-year-old male then fled the scene in Gauge’s Explorer after CDP arrived. Social media evidence and surveillance footage linked them to the crime.

You can view videos of the incident here.

On October 3, 2024, Gauge Franklin was arrested and on October 8, 2024, John Dietrich was arrested.

On February 12, 2025, Gauge Franklin and John Dietrich pleaded guilty to the following charges:

  • One count of Aggravated Riot
  • One count of Inducing Panic
  • One count of Arson

Franklin and Dietrick were sentenced to one year in prison.