The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
Bay Village Joins the Flock Community
Flock is an Atlanta, Georgia based company that offers nationwide security solutions. Flock cameras monitor vehicles that are coming into the city by their license plate, vehicle make/model or distinguishing features.
Flock controls and stores the motion-activated camera footage. The BVPD will get an alert from FLOCK if a vehicle enters the city that has a law enforcement indicator (active warrant/stolen vehicle/missing person.) The technology will show officers an image of the vehicle and when it entered the city. Officers would then confirm the information (i.e. license plate) before committing to enforcement action.
The BVPD cannot randomly monitor the cameras. The BVPD will also be able to use Flock cameras as an investigative tool. (For example, someone in a gray van attempted to abduct a child.) EVERY inquiry of the system must be based on an actual investigation and documented as such. This is NOT a spy tool. Additionally, Flock cameras do not have the capability to detect speeding violations.
Another benefit of having the cameras is that we are able to access (with permission) all of the cameras on the FLOCK network. It is a tremendous investigative tool and force multiplier, especially among local police departments. Flock cameras will supplement our current safety technology and will provide for a safer community.
The cameras are in the process of installation and should all be up in the next few days. Some are mounted on existing poles, some had to have a pole installed. They are solar powered with back up batteries.
Bay Village is joining the west shore cities in joining Flock. This includes cities from Lakewood to Avon Lake and south to North Olmsted.
Camera Locations are only at entrances to the city:
- Lake Road/Rocky River border
- Lake Road/Avon Lake border
- Walker Road/Avon Lake border
- Bradley Road/Naigle Road
- Bassett Road/Railroad tracks
- Dover Center Road/Railroad tracks
- Columbia Road/Railroad tracks
- Cahoon Road/Railroad tracks
*** Established County LPR at Clague/Wolf Road
Flock cameras are leased yearly through Flock. If they are not used or are not helpful, we are not obligated to keep them. The cameras are $2,500 per year/each and there is a standard implementation fee when they are installed.
I am confident that we will increase the safety of Bay Village residents while honoring individual rights and liberties. Flock cameras will enhance our current technology initiatives – static security cameras, in-car cameras, body cameras (soon) and tasers etc. while helping keeping our officers safe.
– Thank you and stay safe, Chief Robert Gillespie
Real Estate Scam
On 02/09/2023, at 1435 hrs, a female contacted BVPD to report a scam. She was interested in renting a house in the 23000 block of Knickerbocker. She found the listing on Craigslist and contacted the seller via email. The seller stated if she paid an application fee and down payment he would mail her the keys so she could look around inside. The potential renter was suspicious, and refused. She decided to drive over to the house to look at it in person from the curb. She discovered it was listed for sale with a realtor. She contacted the realtor who advised her the house was not for rent, and the Craigslist ad was a scam. The realtor advised the homeowner and Craigslist of the scam.
Car Break-In at Walking Path
On 02/12/2023, at 1705 hrs, a Fairview Park resident reported several credit cards were stolen from her vehicle while it was parked at the Cahoon Walking Path. The cards were in her purse, which was on the front seat. The cards were then used to purchase over $1,000 in merchandise at Avon Commons. There was no obvious forced entry to the vehicle, and the victim is not positive if she locked it. BVPD reminds residents to make sure your vehicle is locked, and if valuables must be left inside, hide them or secure them in the trunk.
Harassment Leads to Stalking Charge
On 2/4/23, Westlake Police received a complaint from the parents of a local 17yo female that the girl’s ex-boyfriend was harassing them all via text message, phone calls and social media. A WPD officer contacted the 23yo male and advised him to cease communications. He agreed. On 2/5/23 the parents again reported that the unwanted communications were continuing despite the warnings. The complainants just wanted the harassment to stop but were not interested in charges at that point. The officer again spoke with the 23yo and strongly advised him to stop. On 2/6/23 at approx. 12:30PM the parents again contacted WPD. Not only had the communications not stopped, the male had now called the juvenile’s school and pretended to be a relative. WPD officers and detectives checked 2 addresses before finding the young adult. He was taken into custody at a home in Cleveland without further incident. The man was charged with menacing by stalking. A protection order was issued by Rocky River Municipal Court protecting the girl and her family.
OVI with Kids in Car
On 2/4/23 at about 9PM WPD received a call from a concerned citizen reporting a vehicle driving recklessly on I90. The caller believed that the driver could be impaired. Officers located the described vehicle and watched as it drove over lane lines on the highway. The car was stopped into Avon. The investigating officer noted that the female operator appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. He also noted that the driver’s 2 juvenile children, aged 12 and 14, were in the vehicle. The 46yo Avon resident was field tested and arrested for OVI. The father of the juveniles was called to the scene to take custody of the girls while the vehicle was impounded and towed from the scene. At the Westlake Jail the driver refused a breath test and was placed under an Administrative License Suspension. She was charged with OVI, the marked lanes violation and endangering children.
Please Stop for School Buses
On 2/7/23 at about 10AM a Westlake School Bus Driver reported that a white SUV passed his bus while it was stopped picking up a student on Willow Run. The red lights on the bus were flashing and the stop sign was deployed. The Westlake City Schools provided the video from the bus which also captured the violation. An officer investigated the incident and cited a 34yo female.
WPD has taken numerous passing stopped school bus reports since the beginning of the year. This is a reminder that violators will be tracked down and ticketed. For the safety of the kids just trying to make it to school, please review the state law involving stopping for buses.
Strange Place to Drink
On 2/7/23 at approx. 2PM officers responded to a report of a female sitting at the front door to the Westlake Porter Public Library. People were taking notice of her because she was drinking beer and appeared to be ready to finish a case of Bud Light. The female appeared to be intoxicated and admitted to drinking “a lot.” After she told the officer that her name was “Brittany Spears” the officer placed her under arrest for disorderly conduct while intoxicated. She was cited with the minor misdemeanor and held in the Westlake Jail until she was sober and able to take care of herself.
Woman Backs into Building
On 2/8/23 at approx. 9:30AM officers responded to a report of a vehicle into a building in the 25000 block of Detroit Rd. While no one was injured, there was structural damage to the office building. The 72yo driver indicated that she did not remember how the vehicle accelerated when she was parking. The car was towed from the scene while the Westlake Fire Dept checked on the damage to the property.
Mobile Food App with Baggage
On 2/8/23 at about 4PM an employee of the Courtyard by Marriott called WPD to report that there was a vehicle in their parking lot occupied by 2 persons. The complainant was concerned because both occupants were slumped over and appeared unconscious. Officers responded and noted that the vehicle was leaving the lot when they were pulling in. They followed the car and stopped it at Crocker and Detroit after witnessing traffic violations. While the female driver appeared to be fully coherent, the male passenger was clearly under the influence. He misidentified himself to the officers and was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl, needles and other paraphernalia. During the stop the male again passed out after admitting that he had ingested fentanyl. The 43yo Elyria resident was sent to the hospital in an ambulance for treatment. The female driver was sent on her way after she explained that the pair were delivering food for a mobile app. She knew that the passenger had a drug problem. Once lab results are received, expected charges for the male passenger will be felony possession of drugs and misdemeanor possession of drug abuse instruments and misidentification.
Wrecked at the Rec Center
On 2/12/23 at about 1PM a concerned citizen called WPD to report that there was an occupied vehicle parked in the Rec Center lot. The complainant reported that the occupant had the windows down, the music up and was smoking marijuana. The responding officers could smell the burning marijuana as they approached the car. Investigation revealed that the 30yo Hinkley resident was in possession of marijuana, a scale and baggies. The man was cited with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. He was then sent on his way.
She Felt “Buzzed”
On 2/13/23 at approx. 2:15AM WPD received a report of a motor vehicle crash with air bag deployment on Columbia at Carnation Run. The vehicle involved had crossed the center double yellow lines, run off the opposite side of the roadway and struck a street sign and residential mailbox. The female driver said that she was not injured but needed help finding her eye glasses. The officers assisted her before having her perform field sobriety tests. The 30yo Westlake resident admitted that she felt “buzzed.” The driver was arrested for OVI. At the Westlake Jail, the driver tested over 2x the legal limit of alcohol on her breath. She was charged with failure to control as well as the OVI. Her license was also suspended.
Wanted Vehicle Located
On 2/14/23 at approx. 3AM officers on patrol located a wanted vehicle in the parking lot of the Extended Stay Hotel on Clemens. The Honda had fled from Brookpark PD earlier in the night. The car was occupied when the officers located it. The male driver, who gave a Florida address, was taken into custody without further incident. Brookpark PD responded to the hotel and took the man into their custody. The vehicle was also impounded. Officers noted that the man appeared intoxicated.
Catalytic Converter Swiped
On 2/16/23 at about 7AM WPD received a call from a citizen of East Crossings Pl reporting that they were the victim of a theft. The victim had their catalytic converter stolen off of their Honda CRV while it was parked in the lot of the apartments during the overnight hours. There were no suspects developed.
Outstanding Warrant
On 2/17/23 at about 11:30AM an officer on patrol stopped a vehicle around the hotels on Sperry after learning that the registered owner had warrants for drug possession with our department. The female also had no driver’s license. The 36yo Elyria resident was cited with driving under suspension and was arrested for the outstanding warrant.
