Cleveland city worker robbed on duty speaks out about fight for justice: I-Team

CLEVELAND (WJW) — A Cleveland city worker held up at gunpoint on the job is now speaking out about her fight for justice and your safety.

She feels she barely survived.

But, she has found the courage to stand up for herself and everyone. We met the victim as she showed up for a hearing in the case against Rafael Aliciea.

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Cleveland police say, last month, he robbed the city worker in Ohio City and two other people in separate cases.

The City employee said, “I went to close the door, and  he was literally right there. A foot and a half from me. And, he had the gun pointed at me. And, he put it up to my nose when he loaded the gun with the slide.”

She added, “I am extremely terrified. I’m scared.”

That hold up happened at a city office. Cuyahoga County Prosecutors indicted Rafael Aliciea on a long list of felony charges.

Now, that victim we met is concerned about the suspect getting out of jail. And, she’s concerned about safety for everyone on the streets.

She went on to say, “If you’re the victim, and you have a gun to your face, it’s a whole life-changing experience. It’s just getting worse, and it needs to be recognized.”

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb has, repeatedly, said public safety is a top priority. And, he and his staff have said crime has been going down.

But, the city struggles with a chronic shortage of police. And, the worker we met wants to see more done for safety.

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She’s not convinced crime is down.

Meantime, we found that victim concerned about the suspect in her case getting back on the streets. As we put this story together, the suspect had not posted bond to get out of jail. But, he could end up on house arrest with an ankle bracelet not far from the scene of the crime.

The court says, if the suspect gets out of jail, the ankle bracelet would be an “added measure of security.”

The victim we spoke to tells us that makes her feel a little better. But, not enough to stop fighting for her justice and your safety.

“If we were harder on our criminals like this man…He should be in prison or in jail,” she said.

The suspect is pleading not guilty. The case is just beginning to move through the court.

Police say they made the arrest after the suspect used credit cards he stole from the city worker.

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