Fight over bicycle in Elyria ends in robbery, assault charges

An Elyria man is facing felony charges for allegedly trying to steal a bicycle from another man by force in downtown Elyria last month. Officers arrested Brandon Dillinger, 28, of East Avenue, on felony charges of aggravated robbery and felonious assault and a misdemeanor assault charge on Feb. 8. He is free on bond. The next hearing in the case is in Elyria Municipal Court on March 27. According to a police report, an officer patroling Broad Street near Kerstetter Way in downtown Elyria just before 3 p.m. Feb. 8 saw Dillinger and a 20-year-old Elyria man arguing on the corner of Broad and Court streets. Dillinger flagged the officer down and said the other man had stolen his black BMX bicycle. As Dillinger spoke with the officer, the officer saw a black baton in Dillinger's pocket. Dillinger claimed he had reported the black bicycle stolen months before, but his original report to Elyria police said it was a silver Mongoose. The bicycle Dillinger said was stolen did not match the one the 20-year-old man had with him. Both men were sent on their way according to the police report. Half an hour later, police were again called to Broad Street. When they arrived, the 20-year-old man said Dillinger had parked his Dodge truck and then assaulted him, trying to take the bicycle back. The alleged victim said Dillinger offered his hand "as if to shake (the alleged victim's) hand," then grabbed the bicycle. The two men fought over the bicycle, and Dillinger allegedly hit the other man in the head and body with the baton. During the struggle, Dillinger fell and dropped the baton but refused to let go of the bicycle, according to the police report. Witnesses saw what was happening and attempted to record video of the assault, but Dillinger drove off — running over an iPhone one of the witnesses dropped as they tried to record the alleged assault, according to the police report. Officers later arrested Dillinger at his home without incident, and he was taken to the Lorain County Jail.