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Cleveland Police identify man allegedly involved in fatal hit-skip of 7-year-old boy

Councilman: 'I have been dealing with this individual the police are looking for since he was 15 years of age'
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CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Division of Police said they need the public's help to find Donald Mynatt, 32.

A spokesperson said Mynatt is wanted for the hit-skip that killed a seven-year-old boy.

In a news release, they said a felony warrant was registered for leaving the scene of accident - child fatality related to Amir Prewitt's death.

The release said Prewitt was riding his skateboard inside Lakeshore Beach Apartments on the 16000 block of Lakeshore Boulevard when a large SUV struck him and dragged him under the vehicle. The driver then left the scene.

Prewitt was transported to a nearby hospital and was later pronounced dead, police said.

A vehicle described as a large SUV struck him, dragging him under the vehicle, police said.

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Resident Lawanda Smith said she witnessed the driver leaving the scene.

She said the driver ran over Amir's skateboard as the little boy was being cradled in his father's arms.

"I believe he [the driver] needs to be behind bars because he could of had some type of consideration to stop," she said.

'I know this guy'

When Ward 8 Cleveland Councilman learned Mynatt was wanted for Prewitt's death, he was stunned.

"As soon as I heard his name, I said, 'I know this guy,'" he said.

Polensek quickly dug through his records and found he had written a letter to Mynatt's mother in 2007 after Mynatt was involved in a series of crimes at only 15 years old.

"Here I am now, 17 years later, and now he's wanted for killing a seven-year-old child in my community," he said.

The letter said, in part, "It is clear to me this young man is on a destructive path."

"This indicates how the whole juvenile justice system and the justice system period is broken," Polensek added.

Polensek has asked the community to step forward and help police.

"I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly," he said. "Unfortunately, today, in this city, in this county, I'm seeming more of the ugly."

He made another such plea on Thursday afternoon in a written statement sent to News 5:

“Now he’s running way from the consequences of his most recent actions. If he cannot summon the strength to turn himself in, the people in the community who know where he is, MUST. I’m asking everyone to help Amir’s grieving mother with seeking justice, so her and her family can mourn in peace."

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas court records also show Mynatt has a long criminal history.

Records show he has been charged in nine felony cases since 2010.

On top of that, Mynatt was already a wanted fugitive.

Records show a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to show up in court for a domestic violence case.

Mynatt is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes, according to police.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Accident Investigation Unit at 216-623-5295 or the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED.

School mourns

Amir should be starting second grade at St. Thomas Aquinas School this week.

Instead, his presence will be desperately missed in that school, reports anchor Katie Ussin.

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