Elyria police seek fugitive allegedly spotted with a gun while out on bond

Elyria police are searching for an Elyria man who is out on bond and charged in an attempted burglary, after he was allegedly spotted carrying a firearm in the city on Saturday. In a release on Saturday, the Elyria Police Department said it is seeking Elliott Guzman, 18, of Colgate Avenue after he fled officers on Saturday afternoon. According to court records, Guzman was charged with attempted burglary and obstructing official business, both felonies, in connection to the incident on Thursday. He posted bond after his arraignment, and was released from the Lorain County Jail on Friday. On Saturday, police said, an officer spotted Guzman getting into a black Cadillac sedan and "carrying what appeared to be a firearm." Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Guzman fled in the vehicle before stopping on Kent Circle and running away on foot. Police searched for Guzman with the help of a K-9 unit from North Ridgeville, but were unable to locate him as of Saturday evening, Police Chief James Welsh said. While searching though, police did recover a stolen firearm that is "believed to be connected to Guzman." The release instructed residents not to approach Guzman if they see him, but to call 911 or the Elyria Police Department at 440-323-3302 with any information on his whereabouts. "Our officers and detectives have followed up on multiple leads in the Eastern Heights neighborhood, and we will continue working until (Guzman) is in custody," Welsh said. Guzman was one of four men arrested on Thursday in connection to an attempted daytime burglary at a home on Longfellow Avenue. Welsh said that the men did not make entry to the house on Thursday and their vehicle was quickly identified, but when police attempted to stop the vehicle it fled. Guzman was driving the car, Welsh said, and drove it back to his home on Colgate Avenue before fleeing inside. The three other men were arrested in the driveway, and Guzman was arrested inside the home after police obtained a warrant. According to Lorain County Common Pleas Court records, Guzman is currently set for trial in another felony case from 2025. On Nov. 13, Guzman was indicted on seven felony charges including two counts of abduction, aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence and having weapons while under disability. Guzman's next pretrial in that 2025 case is set for the courtroom of Common Pleas Judge Melissa Kobasher on March 16. His next trial date in the case of the attempted burglary this week is set for March 2 in Elyria Municipal Court. "I want to be clear about some misconceptions online," Welsh said Saturday. "The Elyria Police Department does not set bond. We make arrests based on probable cause. Bond is set by a judge or a magistrate through the court system. That decision is not made by the police department." Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.