Police: Kidnapping/carjacking at Steelyard Commons was a hoax (why isn't TREMONT being printed in crime news stories lately)

CLEVELAND - Claims that a pregnant woman was kidnapped and carjacked from Steelyard Commons Saturday afternoon aren't true, according to Cleveland police. They said the 23-year-old made up the story.

“Our detectives did a great job. They looked at video and it revealed and unearthed the story that she was lying. It was a hoax,” said commander Keith Sulzer, who added the shopping plaza is safe.

Police responded to a person screaming in a car at Quigley Road and Clark Avenue where they found the pregnant woman locked inside her trunk.

The 23-year-old told police she was leaving the clothing store Dots when she was approached from behind by a masked man and woman who put a gun to her back and then stole $210, plus her welfare card. Then, she said they forced her into her backseat of her Monte Carlo and took off.

After driving for several minutes, the 23-year-old also said the two pulled off on a highway to stuff her in the trunk. But police said she actually shut herself in it.

Now, the woman faces several charges, including filing a false police report.

"My apologies to Steelyard Commons and the great people at First Interstate. Please shop at Steelyard. Don't let a negative story like this hurt such an important resource to this district," Sulzer added on the department's Facebook page.

The property owner where Steelyard Commons is located also issued this statement:
"We're sorry the public was unnecessarily alarmed by the false report of a kidnapping at Steelyard Commons. Steelyard Commons is a safe place for families to shop with extraordinary security measures in place. We believe these helped the police resolve this matter and we appreciate their diligent follow-up," said Mitchell Schneider, President, First Interstate Properties.