Car Rams Police Cruiser (and More Reasons to Lock Your Cars!)

Westlake Police saw a cruiser rammed by a suspect in an escape attempt at a local bank and a firearm was stolen from an unlocked car in the community last week. Here are the stories:

–On 1/21/21 Westlake PD received information from a Northeast Ohio Police Department about a white GMC Yukon which was being used in theft from auto incidents in the area.  Westlake officers located the described vehicle in the parking lot of the PNC Bank on Crocker Rd at Detroit Rd.  An associated black Volvo drove over a lawn and curb to flee the scene upon officers’ arrival.  It was not pursued.  While attempting to make contact with the 4 occupants of the white SUV,  the driver of the Yukon backed into a Westlake PD vehicle several times while attempting to flee the area.  It eventually drove head first into the PNC Bank building causing non-structural damage.  4 occupants of the Yukon were taken into custody.  1 additional involved person was arrested inside the bank.  The 5 persons, ranging in age from 29 to 39 years old, listed addresses in Florida and Texas.  The group is being investigated by several agencies for break ins of vehicles, using stolen credit cards and passing fraudulent checks.  Westlake PD filed charges for felony receiving stolen property against the 5 individuals, 2 women and 3 men.  A 38yo Fort Lauderdale, FL male, one of the 5, was also charged with felony assault as he was the driver of the SUV that struck the police car and the bank building.  Additional charges are expected from other departments of cities the group had visited.  The Volvo which had fled, a rental car from Florida, was recovered abandoned in Rocky River on 1/22.  Follow-up is continuing. 

–Gun Heisted from Unlocked Car: On 1/17/21 at about 10AM a resident on Queens Ct reported that their unlocked vehicle had been entered during the overnight hours.  The victim discovered that their firearm along with their wallet was missing from the car.  The stolen credit cards had not been used before being cancelled and the gun was entered into police databases as stolen.

–Stolen at the Pump: On 1/17/21 at approx. 7PM officers were called to the BP station at Columbia and Detroit Rds for a reported stolen vehicle.  The victim reported that he parked his van at a gas pump and entered the store to buy a drink.  Unfortunately he left the keys in the vehicle because when the victim left the store about 2 minutes later the van was gone.  Surveillance was checked which showed 2 persons arrived on foot to the parking lot.  A male entered the vehicle and picked up the 2nd person before fleeing.  The van was recovered intact on Skyview Dr in Cleveland on 1/21.  Investigators are following up with evidence collected.