Posted on August 14, 2014

North Ridgeville Police Seek 3 Males in Assault of Teenager

Steve Fogarty, Chronicle-Telegram, August 14, 2014

Police are asking for the public’s help to find those responsible for the weekend assault and robbery of a local teen.

Police Lt. Greg Petek, a detective working on the case, said three black males ranging in age from 15 to 20 are being sought for the Saturday night attack that left 16-year-old Nick Vincenzo with a broken facial bone and bruises.

“We’re asking for any witnesses who might have seen something to give us a call,” Petek said. “Center Ridge Road is a pretty busy area, especially around the close of the Corn Festival. We hope somebody saw something.”

The teen was attacked shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday as he walked home along Center Ridge Road from the Corn Festival grounds at Bainbridge and Avon-Belden roads, said his father, Jon Vincenzo, who said he was initially apprehensive about releasing his son’s name or any photos in the aftermath of the attack.

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As Nick reached the intersection of Center Ridge and Ridge Plaza, a gold-colored car containing five black males pulled up, the elder Vincenzo said.

Three males got out of the vehicle and asked the teen for his cell phone memory card.

The boy, a junior at Elyria Catholic High School, told his father he was then punched and knocked to the ground by the suspects, and repeatedly kicked in the head.

The attackers took $12 in cash, the teen’s iPhone, and most of his clothing, leaving him clad only in his underwear and socks.

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Police are trying to determine a motive for the incident.

“We think they chose their victim at random and because he was by himself,” Petek said.

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Nick walked to a Center Ridge Road gas station where he was initially hassled by passers-by, but was eventually given a phone and a shirt.

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