CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announced that Adam Rodriguez, 30, pleaded guilty to impersonating a police officer and kidnapping a 14-year-old girl in December 2019.

“This victim experienced several minutes of sheer terror before courageously escaping. Thankfully, a good Samaritan nearby was able to help her, otherwise this may have had a different ending.”

Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley

On December 16, 2019, the victim was walking home from school near West 87th Street and Madison Avenue when Rodriguez followed her several blocks in his car – a decommissioned police vehicle. He pulled up next to her, identified himself as a police officer, and instructed her to get in. As he was driving her around, the victim noticed a gun on the floor and questioned where he was taking her before he threatened to kill her. She opened the car door, jumped out, and ran to a nearby residence. The good Samaritan assisted with getting the victim home safely before police were called.

The Cleveland Division of Police’s Second District Detective’s Bureau conducted an investigation that linked Rodriguez to the crime through surveillance video. He was arrested two days later.

He pleaded guilty to the following charges:

  • One count of Kidnapping
  • One count of Impersonation Of Certain Officers
  • One count of Having Weapons Under Disability

Rodriguez will be sentenced on August 4 at 9 a.m. at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center.