WMAR - Baltimore, Maryland
1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays
Watch Now
Watch Now
1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays
WMAR - Baltimore, Maryland
Watch Now
Watch Now
Close x
Live Watch
Alerts
  • Local News
    • Around Town
    • Local Eats
    • Bridging the Gap
    • Shop Small with Stevie
  • News
    • Local News
    • State
    • In Focus
    • Hidden Treasures
    • National
    • Two Americas
    • World
    • Education
    • News Photo Gallery
    • Good to Know
    • The Race
    • Consumer
  • Weather & Traffic
    • 7 Day Forecast
    • School Closings
    • Weather Alerts
    • Weather Blogs
    • Hurricane
    • Interactive Radar
    • Traffic
    • Live Traffic Cams
  • In Focus
    • Matter for Mallory
    • Vacants
    • Contaminated Water
  • Voice for Veterans
    • Veteran Spotlight
  • Investigations
    • Matter for Mallory
    • Maryland Mysteries
    • Healthy Holly Controversy
    • Contact WMAR-2 News Investigators
  • Midday Maryland
  • Sports
    • Orioles
    • Ravens
    • Lacrosse
    • Turkey Bowl
    • Student Athlete
    • High School
  • Your Health Matters
    • Conquering Addiction
    • Men's Health
  • Entertainment
    • TV Listings
    • Grit TV
    • Bounce TV
    • Court TV
    • Newsy
    • The List
  • WMAR Podcast
  • Blogs
    • Weather Blogs
    • Day in the Life
    • Taste Buds
  • WMAR -2 Videos
    • WMAR-2 On YouTube
    • WMAR Originals
    • Grace & Glory
  • Marketplace
    • Contests
    • Steering Change
    • Brand Spotlight
    • Everyday Heroes
    • Workers Wanted
    • WMAR-2 On the Go
    • Power of Age
    • Home Pros
  • About WMAR
    • Advertise with WMAR
    • WMAR-2 News Team
    • Contact Us
    • Station Jobs
  • Sign In
  • Newsletters
  • Sign Out
  • Manage Emails
  • Apps
  • Careers Search
  • In Focus
  • Weather
  • Matter for Mallory
  • Voice for Veterans
    • Veteran Resources
    • Veteran Spotlight
  • Local Eats
  • Around Town
  • WMAR on YouTube
  • Contests
  • WMAR on Facebook
1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays
NewsNational

Actions

  • Facebook
  • Tweet
  • Email

'Taxi service' owner in Ohio is not only missing a license — he's also a registered sex offender

Owner of Lakewood Smart Taxi is not only missing a license, he's also a registered sex offender
By: Amanda VanAllen
Posted at 7:08 AM, Aug 15, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-15 12:13:26-04

LAKEWOOD, Ohio — When she heard Jimmy Adkins was running his own taxi service in Ohio she immediately warned her friends and family.

"We want people to know that he's out there," said a witness who did not want to be identified.

That's because the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department says Adkins is a registered sex offender. One that's been convicted twice, in his most recent crime involving a young relative.

"My niece was living with him and that's when he made the attempt to have sex with her," said the witness.

Adkins is running a service called Lakewood Smart Taxi.

He needs a license to run his service, but he doesn't have one. Just last month, he got arrested for transporting passengers without it.

But even if he applied for that license, there's no way Adkins could get one.

"That's the thing, within the city's ordinance, they require that you have a clean record," said Derrick Russell, a consultant of Ace Taxi, a legitimate taxi company in Cleveland.

Five years ago Russell fired Adkins because of his criminal record.

"I was shocked, I've done investigations for insurance companies for a number of years and major companies, I had not seen a record like that," said Russell.

He says Lakewood Smart Taxi isn't the first of its kind.

"Anyone can put a magnet on the side of their car and call themselves a taxi because unfortunately, the regulations are really gray in that area, but the other thing is there is no enforcement," he said.

The family of Adkins' victims is advising against getting in his car.

"Lord knows what he can do, and it's just not safe, it's not safe, you know what I mean there could be anything that could happen," said the unidentified witness.

Adkins was contacted multiple times for comment but never called back.

>>REPORTER

When she heard Jimmy Atkins was running his own taxi service she immediately warned her friends and family...

 

(18:12:35)

We want people to know that he's out there

 

>>REPORTER

That's because the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department say Atkins is a registered sex offender. One that's been convicted twice-- in one case the crime involved a young relative.

 

(18:14:22)

My niece was living with him and that's when he made the attempt to have sex with her

 

>>REPORTER

Atkins is running a service called "Lakewood Smart Taxi" - he needs a hack license to do that which he does not have - and about a month ago got arrested transporting folks without it.

Even if he applied for that license - there's no way he could get one.

 

>>DERRICK RUSSELL, ACE TAXI CONSULTANT

(17:02:29)

Is he allowed to drive taxi's as a registered sex offender?

That's the thing, within the city's ordinance, they require that you have a clean record

 

>>REPORTER

That's Derrick Russell--he's a consultant for Ace Taxi and 5 years ago he fired Atkins because of his criminal record.

 

>>DERRICK RUSSELL, ACE TAXI CONSULTANT

(17:11:11)

I was shocked, I've done investigations for insurance companies for a number of years and major companies, I had not seen a record like that

 

>>REPORTER

Russell says "Lakewood Smart Taxi" isn't the first of its kind....

 

>>DERRICK RUSSELL, ACE TAXI CONSULTANT

(17:06:36)

Anyone can put a magnet on the side of their car and call themselves a taxi, because unfortunately the regulations are really gray in that area, but the other thing is there is no enforcement

 

>>REPORTER

His victims family advising against getting in his car...

 

(18:17:48)

Lord knows what he can do, and its just not safe its not safe, you know what I mean there could be anything that could happen

 

AMANDA TAG:

WE REACHED OUT TO ATKINS MULTIPLE TIMES. I GOT HIM ON THE PHONE ONCE, I TOLD HIM WHAT MY STORY WAS ABOUT AND HE ABTRUPTLY HUNG UP AND NEVER CALLED ME BACK.

RUSSELL FROM ACE TAXI IS ADVISING FOLKS TO MAKE SURE YOUR RIDE SHARING SERVICE IS AT LEAST REGISTERED WITH THE STATE OF OHIO BEFORE GETTING INSIDE.

LIVE IN LAKEWOOD, AMANDA VANALLEN NEWS 5.

 

 

Copyright 2018 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Sign up for the Headlines Newsletter and receive up to date information.

now signed up to receive the Headlines Newsletter.

Click here to manage all Newsletters
Remote Web Graphic New 2023

About WMAR

How to watch WMAR-2 News on streaming devices

  • Traffic
  • News
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Life
  • Marketplace
  • Don't Waste Your Money
  • Support
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Center
  • Journalism Ethics Guidelines
  • Terms of Use
  • EEO
  • Careers
  • FCC Public Files
  • FCC Application
  • Public File Contact
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Closed Captioning Contact

Social

  • wmar2news/
  • wmar2news
  • WMAR2News
  • wmar2news
Scripps Media, Inc
Scripps Local Media
© 2023 Scripps Media, Inc
Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way