The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
On 5/26/20 at approx. 7AM Westlake Police received a complaint of a theft from 2 work vans which had been parked at a business in Westlake overnight. The vans had windows broken out and thousands of dollars of work tools were missing. Surveillance videos show 2 subjects arrive to the parking lot driving a black Ford Taurus in the morning on Sunday 5/24. They forcibly entered the vans and took the tools. One suspect is described as a white male wearing a dark red shirt and black, baggy shorts. He was accompanied by a very heavy white female wearing blue jeans and a tan/olive shirt. This duo is also suspected of similar thefts in other Northeast Ohio cities. The subjects were identified as a 29yo female from Madison, OH and a 41yo Cleveland male. Both will be charged with felony theft.
‘Sgt. Rich’ Calling….
On 6/7/20 at about 5:30PM a citizen reported being the victim of a scam. She had received an unexpected call from a male who purported to be “Sgt. Rich” from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff Department. Sgt. Rich told the victim that she had 2 warrants out for her arrest because she missed her grand jury appearance obligations. The victim knew nothing about the grand jury but after Sgt. Rich threatened her with arrest, the victim was talked into purchasing thousands of dollars in gift cards to withdraw the warrants. The victim is out the funds. Investigators contacted the county who are aware that fraudsters are using their agency’s name to scam citizens.
Heated in the Hot Tub
On 6/10/20 at approx. 8PM officers responded to the Double Tree Hotel for a report of an intoxicated male groping a female in the hot tub. Officers interviewed all involved and arrested a 40yo Cleveland resident for misdemeanor sexual imposition. He was also charged with being disorderly while intoxicated and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to Westlake Jail.
Unresponsive at Crocker Park
On 6/11/20 at approx. 1:40AM officers responded along with the Fire Department to a report of an unresponsive male in a vehicle at Crocker Park. The male was found in his SUV and appeared to be highly intoxicated. The 32yo Olmsted Twp driver could barely talk or stand up. He was arrested for physical control. At the Westlake Jail the man was found to be over 3 ½ times the legal limit of alcohol.
Fake Agent
On 6/11/20 at about 10PM a resident at the Extended Stay Hotel on Clemens called to report that he was the victim of a fraud. He received an unsolicited call from a man who purported to be a Texas State FBI Agent. The fake agent told the victim that his identity was compromised and he needed to buy gift cards from funds from his bank account to clear up the incident. Luckily the complainant did not buy gift cards but he did divulge some personal identifying information to the caller. An identity theft report was generated and the victim was going to follow up with the credit reporting agencies.
