The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
Sunglass Theft
On 4/8/23 at approx. 2:45PM WPD received a call from the Sunglass Hut at Crocker Park reporting a theft of several pairs of glasses. The theft had happened about 30 minutes prior. The 2 female suspects had already left. The employees said that they looked to be a mother and daughter. The older person appeared to be pregnant. They concealed seven pairs of sunglasses valued at over $3000 before leaving without paying. WPD requests the public’s help in identifying the suspects in this shoplifting. If you recognize either of the women, please contact 440-871-3311. You may remain anonymous. Ptl. Carman is investigating under report #2308858.
Felony Warrant
On 4/15/23 at approx. 2:15AM an officer stopped a vehicle on Columbia and Sperry for a traffic violation. The passenger was found to have a felony Aggravated Burglary warrant out of Lorain County. The 20yo female from Shaker Hts was arrested and transferred to a Lorain County Deputy. The driver was warned and sent on their way.
Passed Out
On 4/16/23 at about midnight, a concerned citizen called WPD to report that a male pulled into his residential driveway and passed out behind the wheel of his black truck. Officers arrived to find the driver parked as reported. The man was slumped over to the right across the center console. Upon the officers knocking on the window, the driver woke up and appeared extremely confused. He said he did not know where he was. He did not know the person who owned the home where he decided to park. The Sgt noted that the 33yo Brookpark man had to lean against his vehicle to maintain balance when he stood. The driver began to vomit after he told the officer that he thought he was in Avon. A rescue squad was summoned to check on the male as he was so intoxicated. The driver was transported to the hospital where he was charged with OVI. He was released at the hospital to receive medical treatment.
Guard Rail
On 4/17/23 at about 11:15PM a night shift officer found a vehicle that had crashed into the guard rail at the top of the I90E/B exit ramp from I90 to Clague Rd. At the same time, a 911 caller reported that someone had exited the ramp, never stopped at the traffic signal and drove directly into the guard rail. The officer noted that the operator was rocking the car back and forth in the mud holes next to the guardrail attempting to free the vehicle. The 74yo North Olmsted male said that he thought his brakes had failed causing him to collide with the barrier. The driver appeared intoxicated. He submitted to field testing and was arrested for OVI. The man was transported to the Westlake Jail where he was found to be over 2x the legal limit. The man’s license was suspended at that point and he was charged with failure to control, OVI and prohibited breath alcohol content. He was later released with a court date in Rocky River Municipal Court.
Employee Attacked
On 4/17/23 at approx. 2:30PM WPD received a call from Market District at Crocker Park reporting that an employee there had been punched by a customer. They requested an ambulance for the employee as well as police response. Officers arrived and found that the employee had been punched by a would-be shoplifter. The suspect had gathered expensive meat and several cases of Red-Bull before assaulting the clerk. The suspect left in an identified vehicle. The man was described as a black male who was around 50-60 years old, 5’ 10” and skinny wearing a reflective vest and baseball hat. Officers are following up. The employee declined medical treatment.
Napping in the Motel Parking Lot
On 4/8/23 at about 8:20AM an officer on patrol noticed someone sleeping in a vehicle in the parking lot of the Super8 Motel on Sperry. The officer also noted that the registered owner of the car had active warrants from Cuyahoga County for non pay of child support. When the officer approached to talk to the napping occupant, an open container of alcohol was seen in the front cup holder. The man sleeping was confirmed to be the wanted car owner. He was taken into custody without incident. A search revealed that he was in possession of a small bag of a white powdery substance, a digital scale and suspected marijuana. The man admitted that the powder was cocaine. He was transported to the Westlake Jail and charged with felony cocaine possession. The 39yo Cleveland resident was later turned over to the county deputies to answer to the child support charges.
Dirtbag Wanted in Vacuum Cleaner Thefts
On 4/8/23 at approx. 8:50AM WPD received a report that someone had thrown a brick through the front window of Bed Bath and Beyond. Officers arrived and found that a lone male had entered the store at approx. 11:30PM the previous night after creating the small hole in the window. He took over a dozen expensive vacuum cleaners before fleeing the area in a rented van. Detectives are following up with several leads.
Vehicle Recovered after Heist
On 4/11/23 at approx. 3:30AM a resident on Briarwood called WPD to report that their vehicle had been stolen out of the driveway. The owner thought they had locked the vehicle but did leave the keys inside when they parked it for the night. WPD took a report and entered the vehicle in police databases. At least 1 east side suburb police department pursued the car that morning after it was stolen but were unable to get the thieves stopped. At about 6:10AM that morning, Euclid located the vehicle parked in their city. WPD responded to Euclid and recovered the vehicle for the owner. Evidence was collected from the car before it was turned back over to the resident.
Crocker Park Drag Race
On 4/11/23 at about 9:15PM WPD responded to the report of 2 SUV’s drag racing with their lights off at Crocker Park. Officers searched the area but did not find the racing vehicles. One was described as being dark silver. A few minutes later, at approx. 9:35PM, officers spotted a black Porsche SUV operating nearby on Crocker Rd. The vehicle was stopped for multiple equipment violations. The driver, a 37yo Beachwood man, admitted he did not have a valid driver’s license. Officers also noted indicators of drug use in the vehicle. The driver admitted that there was a gun and marijuana in the SUV. Investigation revealed several baggies of suspected marijuana along with a handgun in the vehicle. The driver was cited with driving under suspension, possession of marijuana and rear illumination required. He was released from the scene with the firearm as he was legally allowed to possess it. The Porsche was impounded and towed away.
Lights Out Leads to OVI Arrest
On 4/12/23 at approx. 3:30AM officers stopped a vehicle on Crocker Rd near the North Olmsted city line because the car had no tail lights illuminated. The driver said he had the car worked on that day and didn’t realize that the rear lights were not on. The 59yo Columbia Station resident showed signs of intoxication and was asked to submit to field sobriety tests. After testing, the man was placed into custody for OVI. He was transported to the Westlake Jail, while the passenger was transported to the Westlake PD lobby to await a ride. The car was towed from the scene. The driver’s license was suspended after he refused a breath test. He was later released to a sober ride.
Strange Story from I-90 Pedestrian
On 4/14/23 at about 5:30AM WPD received a 911 call from a female reporting that she had been in a vehicle on I90 with others when the car became disabled. She said her friend had been driving and others in the car had been drinking so she left and was walking on the highway. WPD officers found the caller on the Columbia Rd ramp from I90. The 28yo Cleveland resident had felony warrants from Cleveland PD for a “family offense,” and Euclid PD for criminal damaging. While the disabled vehicle was not found, the pedestrian was arrested and turned over to Cleveland PD.
Broken Window at Serpentini
On 3/31/23 at about 5AM, WPD received a call from an alarm company for Serpentini Chevy reporting a suspicious male on the property lurking around the new cars. Officers arrived to find that the male was gone but a Dodge Challenger had a broken window. A police drone was immediately deployed to help check the area. No other signs of an attempted theft were found. Evidence was collected from the damaged vehicle.
Catalytic Converter Spree
On 4/1/23 a citizen on Westchester Parkway called to report that their catalytic converter had been stolen off their Toyota during the overnight hours. The Prius had been parked in the public lot.
On 4/5/23 an employee of UH St. John Medical Center called to report that someone had cut the catalytic converter off of his Honda Element when it was parked in the lot of the hospital during day shift.
On 4/6/23 at about 1PM a complainant came to the police station to report that they had a catalytic converter stolen off of their Mitsubishi while it was parked in the Vine St garage on 4/5/23. The theft occurred between 7:30AM and 4PM.
Video surveillance is being reviewed in an attempt to identify suspects in these thefts.
No Pizza
On 4/2/23 a concerned Rocky River resident called WPD to report that their 24yo grandson had called them asking to have a pizza delivered to him at the Holiday Inn Express on Clemens in Westlake. This grandson had been in trouble with the law in the past and was no longer welcome at the grandparent’s house. They did not believe that he had a room at the hotel and knew that the young man had felony warrants for his arrest. Officers responded to the hotel and found the suspect in the pool area. His warrants for probation violation stemming from felony theft were confirmed and the former Rocky River resident was arrested and transported to the Cuyahoga County Jail. He did not get his pizza.
Domestic Report at Super-8
On 4/3/23 at approx. 3PM officers were called to the Super 8 Motel on Sperry for a reported violent domestic fight. Officers arrived and spoke to a female staying at the hotel. She indicated that her boyfriend struck her during an argument before he walked from the area. She did not want to prosecute for the assault and just wanted to leave the hotel. The male half of the fight was located waiting for an RTA bus at the nearby Park and Ride. The 40yo Toledo man relayed that his girlfriend had been using heroin and methamphetamine which prompted the argument. He denied striking her. Apparently the couple had been staying at the Super 8 for about 2 weeks. Investigation revealed that the boyfriend was in possession of suspected heroin. Additional narcotics were also collected from the hotel room. The male was arrested and charged with felony possession of narcotics. Additional charges may be forthcoming when the case is presented to the Grand Jury.
