WHITEHALL DIVISION OF POLICE
Mike Crispen
Chief of Police
PRESS RELEASE
12/03/2020
PR2020-007
Whitehall Police Apprehend Two (2) Auto Theft Suspects
On 12/3/2020, shortly after midnight, Whitehall Police undercover officers were watching various locations for suspects believed to be involved in multiple car thefts around the City. The undercover officers observed two (2) males in a stolen 2015 Chrysler 200. The vehicle was stolen from the City of Columbus. The vehicle drove east on E. Broad St and entered into the City of Whitehall. Whitehall Police officers were able to box the stolen car in on the lot of Burger King, 3923 E. Broad St.
Upon stopping the car, the suspect in the passenger seat jumped out and fled on foot. The driver of the stolen car was immediately apprehended by officers and identified as O’Shae Antoine Lee, age 29.
With the assistance of Columbus Police Officers and the Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopter, officers located the second suspect in the area of E. Broad St and Schofield Ave. He has been identified as Kwa Kool Kaheim Lee, age 23, the brother of O’Shae. The Lee brothers are suspected in additional car thefts and the investigation is ongoing. More charges and arrests are anticipated in the future.
“We have experienced an increase in auto theft and this is a good example of a coordinated effort to arrest two of the individuals involved”, stated Detective Lieutenant Chad Wilder, “This is also a good time to remind people to lock their cars at night and to not to leave cars unattended while warming up as the weather gets colder. Car dealerships need to be vigilant about locking up keys at night because they are the target of many of these thieves.”