Cleveland Man Pleads Guilty To Kidnapping 14-Year-Old Girl

CLEVELAND — A Cleveland man pleaded guilty this week to impersonating a police officer and kidnapping a 14-year-old.

Adam Rodriguez, 30, faced charges of kidnapping, impersonating a police officer, and having weapons under disability. He will be sentenced Aug. 4 at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center.

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

On Dec. 16, 2019, a 14-year-old girl was walking home from school. She passed down W. 87th Street and Madison Avenue, not realizing a car was trailing behind her, court documents said.

Rodriguez was driving a decommissioned police cruiser when he pulled up next to the girl and identified himself as a police officer, court documents said. He told the girl to get into the car and she followed his order, court documents said.

According to court documents, Rodriguez drove the girl around the city, but the teenager noticed a gun on the floor of the car and began questioning where they were going and what was happening.

Rodriguez then threatened to kill the girl, court documents said, but the teenager opened the car door and jumped out. She then ran to a nearby home where a good Samaritan called police and got the girl to safety.

Cleveland police investigating the kidnapping and linked Rodriguez to the crime through surveillance video. He was arrested two days later, court records said.