New Surveillance Video Documents Robbery of Off-Duty Cleveland Officer at Gas Station Near East 40th Street

Video release follows aggravated-robbery arrest and renewed focus on stolen service weapons

A newly released video tied to the robbery of an off-duty Cleveland police officer captures key moments of a daytime hold-up at a gas station near East 40th Street and Quincy Avenue. The incident occurred shortly after noon on a Saturday, when two masked suspects confronted the officer while he was fueling his vehicle.

Investigators say the robbery unfolded quickly. One suspect approached the officer and held him at gunpoint while a second suspect moved to the officer’s vehicle, searched inside, and located the officer’s service weapon. The suspects also took the officer’s wallet, which contained police identification, along with the officer’s watch. The robbers then fled on foot.

In the emergency call placed minutes after the robbery, the officer reported that two suspects ran up with guns and that one was pressed to his face as he pumped gas.

The officer was not physically injured, and the case has been assigned to detectives in the Cleveland Police Third District. Police later arrested an 18-year-old suspect, Kevin Jackson, who faces an aggravated robbery charge in connection with the case. Court records reviewed by this newsroom describe the theft of the service weapon and personal items during the encounter.

Why the video matters to investigators

Surveillance footage can provide investigators with details that are difficult to capture in witness statements, including the suspects’ movements, timing, vehicle activity, and any distinctive clothing or physical characteristics. In robberies involving masks, detectives typically rely on video to help establish a sequence of events and to identify additional evidence sources, such as nearby cameras, witnesses, and digital trails tied to stolen property.

• Establishing a clear timeline from approach to escape

• Corroborating details in 911 calls and subsequent interviews

• Supporting charging decisions and potential additional counts tied to a stolen firearm

Broader context: robberies and stolen firearms

The theft of a service weapon elevates the public-safety stakes in any robbery investigation. Once a firearm is taken, detectives typically treat the case as both a robbery and a potential illegal-weapons case, with a priority placed on recovering the gun and determining whether it is later used in other crimes. Investigators have not publicly detailed whether the weapon has been recovered.

The case remains under investigation, and detectives have not announced whether they are seeking additional suspects beyond the individual already charged.