Columbus Police designate internet exchange areas

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — Buying or selling something online?

The city of Columbus has labeled areas at five CPD sub-stations as spots where people can complete sales originated online or through social media.

"Internet Purchase Exchange Zones" are available at the following addresses:

• Station #1 - 4560 Karl Rd. Columbus, OH 43224 (Far North)
  
• Station #3 - 5400 Olentangy River Rd. Columbus, OH 43235 (North)
• Station #5 - 1371 Cleveland Ave. Columbus, OH 43211 (Northeast)
• Station #10 - 4215 Clime Rd. Columbus, OH 43228 (Far West)
• Station #20 - 2500 Park Crescent Dr. Columbus, OH 43232 (Far East)

The city first announced the locations last year.

"A police substation monitored with city cameras is a much safer situation than agreeing to meet a stranger at a location the other person selects. Police encourage the public to be in control of the situation by utilizing the Internet Purchase Exchange Zone for their safety," Deputy Chief Thomas Quinlan said in written online statement.

Last week, undercover Columbus SWAT officers shot two suspects, one of whom died, amid an on-going investigation into armed robberies, police said.

Julius Ervin Tate, Jr., 16, was killed on Mount Vernon Avenue last Friday after police said they set up an anonymous meeting with him based on his online ad. Police said Tate was carrying a handgun and pointed it at the “decoy” officer. Officer Eric Richards fired the fatal shot, according to a CPD spokesperson.

Two days earlier, Kyler Collier, 18 was shot by Officer Robert Vass during a similar encounter, police said. Collier was hospitalized in critical condition, police said.

Both officers remained on paid administrative leave, which is a standard procedure as CPD investigates police-involved shootings.

Police have defended their undercover investigative tactics.

Collier and Tate were identified as suspects, police said, because they had used the same phone number in previous robberies – though officers didn't know the identities or ages of the two suspects just based upon the online ads.

The covert operation has ended peacefully eight earlier times, police said.

“These suspects are really putting the public in jeopardy, and we can't sit idly by for our own safety and ignore that,” said Deputy Chief Tim Becker, vowing that the covert “online sale” tactic by SWAT will continue as long as the threat of similar armed robberies persists in the city.

The mother of both suspects have questioned CPD's description of the shootings.

“He’s not that kind of kid,” said Collier's mom, Shameka Howze. “I've never seen with him a gun. We don't have guns in the house.”