WEST SHORE BLUES: The Best of the Beats

Happy Holidays from Bay Village Police

“We have been blessed at the BVPD to have such strong community support over the years, especially through the last few months of pandemic and social unrest. So many have have shown their appreciation for law enforcement, in so many ways. We would like to take a moment and thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, gifts and simple waves as we drive by.

“There are a few individuals that have gone above and beyond in their support of BVPD and law enforcement. We would like to send them a special thanks for your unwavering kindness.

“It has been an especially trying time for communities across the nation. Bay Village is no exception. Please know that we are all in this together and we support YOU in these times, of pain, uncertainty and loss. With God’s help, we will all make it through this year healthy and with a deeper appreciation of our friends and loved ones.

“Stay safe,

“BVPD”

(From the Bay Villlage Police facebook site).

Busy Week for Westlake Police

Gun, Pills, Passed Out Behind the Wheel

On 12/3/20 at about 4AM officers were called to a report of a male slumped over and passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle in the intersection of Clague and Stonehedge Dr. He was found as described in a vehicle that obviously had fresh front end damage. Officers noted that the man had a gun in his waistband and took control of his hands immediately after waking him up. The loaded handgun was confiscated. They noted that the 23yo Brookpark resident was very dazed after waking up and could not articulate how he came to be passed out on Clague Rd. Officers called an ambulance to check on him as they attempted to administer field sobriety tests. Additional investigators discovered that the vehicle had struck a pile of wood and a mailbox on Clague Rd north of where he was located. The driver said that he left the scene to see if his vehicle would still drive. The man was checked out at the hospital before being brought back to the WPD jail to answer to charges of OVI, hit-skip, felony carrying a concealed weapon and failure to control. Reports also note that suspected marijuana, a large amount of pills in plastic baggies, a bong and several knives were located in the male’s car. Additional drug charges will be forwarded to the county grand jury once the narcotics are analyzed by the crime lab.

Strange Cover-Up at Crocker Park

On 11/6/20 at approx. 11PM WPD received calls from concerned citizens at Crocker Park that a male was walking around the area of the Hyatt reporting that he had been robbed. The victim was only wearing a shirt wrapped around his waist. Officers arrived and spoke with the 24yo North Ridgeville resident who said that he had been approached by a male in the nearby parking garage. The “suspect” had a gun and stole the victim’s clothing and belongings including his wallet. The victim was not injured. As officers investigated and looked for the suspect, they discovered the victim’s discarded clothes in the parking garage. They were soiled and still contained all the “victim’s” property. Eventually the man admitted that he made up the story to cover up the fact that he had soiled himself. Officers noted that alcohol may have played a factor in the man’s decision making. The prosecutor is reviewing the case for a possible charge of making false alarms.

Scammed

On 11/17/20 WPD took a report from a citizen about a scam. The victim had received an unexpected email from a person she knew indicating that she was sick, could not be reached by phone and needed assistance. The victim, trying to help, emailed her friend back and was requested to pick up Apple gift cards for someone’s birthday. The gift cards were bought and emailed to the fake friend before the victim realized that something did not seem right. She called her friend and found out none of the story was true.

Grocery Heist

On 11/18/20 at approx. 10:45AM WPD received a call from Aldi’s on Detroit about shoplifters. 2 males had walked out of the store with a shopping cart full of groceries and left in a vehicle. The described car was located and stopped on I90 close to the Rocky River city line. The 2 males were in possession of over $300 worth of groceries. A 63yo Parma resident was charged with receiving stolen property. A 48yo Brunswick was also charged with receiving stolen property along with his entered warrants for felony drug law, theft and traffic offenses. While the groceries could not be accepted back by Aldi’s, they were graciously donated by the store the The Westlake Community Services Food Pantry for distribution.

Fraud

On 11/18/20 at approx. 2PM officers responded to Hunters Point for a fraud report. The citizen reported that someone had used his Home Depot account to fraudulently purchase a faucet. The online thief also changed the address on the account so the faucet would be sent to an address in South Euclid. Investigators paid a visit to the address on the east side to find that it was the residence of a person who was contracted to reship items. The faucet was recovered. Detectives are continuing to look into Empire Solutions LLC, the company paying the reshipper.

Motel Woes

• On 11/18/20 at about 11:30AM officers were called to the Red Roof Inn for a welfare check. The occupants of a room had not left by check out time and when the maintenance person knocked then entered the room he observed that the occupants were motionless. Officers arrived and finally got the 3 occupants to wake up. There was evidence of drug use in plain view. Investigation revealed that the trio were in possession of suspected LSD along with crushed Xanax pills which were being snorted with rolled up dollar bills. Alcohol was also found. Being that none of the 3 were 21 years old, this was also illegal. The three were evicted from the hotel. Charges for felony drug law were filed for a 19yo male from North Ridgeville. Underage possession of alcohol and drug paraphernalia charges are pending for a 20yo male, also from North Ridgeville, and a juvenile female from Sheffield Lake.
• On 11/20/20 at approx. 11:15pm an officer noticed that there was a fire near the dumpster in the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn on Clemens. While waiting for the fire department, witnesses were contacted who reported that a female staying at the hotel had just walked away from the area of the dumpster. The 30yo Cleveland resident was contacted and admitted to setting the fire to rid the contents of snakes. She was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine. Westlake Fire transported her to the hospital for evaluation. She and her boyfriend were evicted from the hotel. Charges of arson and narcotic possession are pending.
• On 11/20/20 at approx. 5pm officers responded to the Super 8 Motel on Sperry for a family dispute. A male called to report that his ex fiancée had assaulted him. The Maple Hts couple were staying at the hotel with 2yo and 8yo children. The male said that he was going to leave the area. A report was taken for prosecutor review. On 11/21/20 at about 10:30am officers were called back to the hotel as the same female had locked the male outside and he was banging on the door. The female, who was 8 months pregnant, was transported to the hospital for injuries sustained in the domestic. The male, a 26yo, was arrested for felony domestic violence along with disrupting public service as destroyed the female’s cell phone when she tried to call for help.
• On 12/3/20 at approx. 11PM officers were called to the Hyatt Place Hotel for a report of a disorderly intoxicated female. The staff reported that the female had issues at the Yard House Restaurant and was now wandering around the hotel causing a disturbance. Officers located the 34yo Cleveland resident and advised her to go back to her room or risk being charged. The highly intoxicated guest soon left her room and was found again wandering in the lobby of the hotel. She was arrested for being disorderly while intoxicated and was transported to the WPD jail to await a sober relative to take custody of her.

Purse Heist

On 11/24/20 a citizen on Weymouth Cir reported that someone had entered her unlocked vehicle and stolen her purse. An officer learned that the complainant had only left the vehicle unoccupied at 4pm for 10 minutes but had left the purse sitting on the passenger seat when she was gone. She lost her purse along with several credit cards which had not been used before she cancelled same. There were no witnesses.

I-90 Scare

On 11/24/20 at about 5pm WPD received 2-911 calls from concerned motorists reporting a reckless or impaired driver on I90. Officers caught up with the vehicle which was driving between lanes and swerving. The operator, a 38yo Cleveland resident, said he was a Marine when asked if he had been drinking. The driver appeared to be impaired and refused to submit to field sobriety testing. He struggled with the officers as they handcuffed him and placed him in the rear of a cruiser. The vehicle was towed from the scene and the male was transported to the Westlake jail where he refused a breath test. The man was charged with OVI, weaving and driving without a license. He was later released to a sober friend.

Fraud

On November 24, at 8:50am, Bay Village Police dispatched to take a Fraud report. Police spoke with the female victim who reported that someone attempted to file for unemployment in her name. Luckily, the fraudulent claim was caught in time before any transactions were processed.

Decoration Damage

On November 28, at 10:50pm Bay Village Police were dispatched to the 26000 block of East Oviatt Road on report of a criminal damaging. The homeowner had called police to report that four juveniles exited a white vehicle, approached her home and had damaged her decorative inflatable turkey, rendering it inoperable. Shortly thereafter, a caller in the 300 block of Dover Center called to report a white vehicle had approached her home and attempted to damage her inflatable snowman before being discovered by the homeowner. Bay Village Police are investigating.

Teen Trouble

On November 28, at 1:55am, Bay Village Police stopped a vehicle on Lake Road near Douglas Road for numerous moving violations. Police spoke with the female operator, a 19 year-old Westlake resident, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. The operator failed field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest. On station, the operator submitted to an Intoxilyzer test which showed a .178 blood alcohol content. The operator is facing charges in Rocky River Municipal Court.