The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
Toyota vs. Pole
On 6/9/23 at about 10PM officers responded to a 1 car crash on Detroit Rd just west of Clague Rd. A Toyota Prius had struck a pole and ended up disabled on the tree lawn of the UH Urgent Care. The 62yo female driver had been drinking at the nearby Panini’s Bar and admitted that she had hit something “bad.” She could not explain why she struck a pole. The North Ridgeville resident was field tested and arrested for OVI. She refused a breath test at the Westlake Jail so her license was placed under an immediate suspension. She was charged with OVI and failure to control. No one was injured.
Catalytic Converter Binge
On 6/12/23 at approx. 7AM WPD responded to a business in the 24000 Block of Sperry Rd for reported thefts of catalytic converters. In all 5 catalytic converters had been sawed off of 5 different trucks in the parking lot. Investigators located footage of the suspects and their vehicle from nearby businesses. A suspect plate was developed using City of Westlake Flock License Plate Readers. State police departments were alerted to the theft and the suspect vehicle was stopped a day later in Dayton. An involved male has been identified and detectives are determining if he is the same person who committed the theft in Westlake. Charges are expected.
Head-on Collision
On 6/14/23 at approx. 8:20PM WPD received multiple 911 calls reporting a head-on collision between 2 vehicles on Detroit Rd west of Dover Center. Witnesses and investigation revealed that a Chevy Trailblazer had crossed left of center and struck a Ford Fusion head-on. 3 persons were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Trailblazer appeared intoxicated and witnesses had seen the vehicle stationary at a green light moments before the crash. The 41yo Westlake male was charged at the hospital with OVI and causing the crash. He refused a chemical test and was charged with a refusal with a prior OVI conviction. His last arrest was in 2010. Detroit Rd was closed for a time while the vehicles were cleared from the scene.
‘Hundreds’ of Ecstasy Pills
On 6/15/23 at about 8:30AM an officer noted a man sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot of the Super 8 Motel on Sperry Rd. The person was slumped over and did not appear to be moving. When the officer checked on the man in the driver’s seat, the male looked up. The officer noted that the interior of the car was filled with smoke and there were obvious signs of illegal drug use in the vehicle. Investigation revealed that the 36yo Cleveland resident was in possession of hundreds of ecstasy pills, as well as powder and suspected oxycodone pills. The officers noted that the pills were various colors and shapes including Homer Simpson, dolphins and the “Netflix” logo. In addition, a loaded .40 Caliber handgun was found in the car. A search warrant served on the associated hotel room revealed a 2nd handgun along with additional felony level narcotics. The male was charged with felony possession of a weapon while under a disability (past felony drug convictions) along with new felony drug possession charges.
Stolen Car Chase
On 5/28/23 at approx. 12:30PM WPD received a license plate reader hit for a stolen vehicle at Crocker and Detroit Rds. An alert officer spotted the entered vehicle at Detroit and Dover and tried to stop the Chevy Malibu which had been stolen out of Cleveland. When the WPD officer tried to stop the vehicle it fled E/B on Detroit. The chase was terminated in the area of Clague due to concern for the reckless operation of the suspect. Investigation revealed the identity of the driver of the fleeing vehicle. Warrants were sought for the 60yo Cleveland resident. On 6/7/23 WPD learned that the suspect had been arrested by another agency and was ready to be released by the Cuyahoga County Jail. WPD picked him up to answer to charges of felony fleeing and receiving stolen property. He was arraigned in Rocky River Municipal Court on the new charges.
Family Pet Recovered
On 6/2/23 at about 11PM WPD received a call from a citizen reporting that her white Poodle, Danny, escaped the house and was missing. She asked for WPD assistance. Officers were dispatched and observed the dog from a distance in the area of Magnolia and Center Ridge Rds. It escaped into a wooded area before the officers could get close enough to catch it. A drone was deployed which helped the officers pinpoint the loose K9’s location. The dog was soon captured with the help of the technology and reunited with its owners.
Passed Out at the Wheel
On 6/3/23 at approx. 6:30AM WPD received a call from a concerned citizen who had noticed a person passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle at Crocker and Detroit Rds. The vehicle was still in drive with the operator’s foot on the brake when the officers arrived. They had to knock on the windows of the pickup to get the driver’s attention. The open bottle of alcohol on the back seat was also a clue about the driver’s state. The 33yo male appeared intoxicated and had difficulty following directions. He was arrested for OVI. The pickup was impounded and towed from the scene. The man refused a breath test so his license was immediately placed under a new suspension. The officers noted that his driving privileges were currently already suspended due to an OVI in February of 2023. He had 1 prior OVI conviction and was cited with OVI, refusing a breath test after a prior OVI conviction and driving under suspension.
Car Strikes House
On 6/3/23 at about 1:10AM WPD responded to a report of a car that struck a house. The passenger of the Audi was taken to the hospital for minor injuries. The driver claimed that the brakes on the vehicle failed. Investigation revealed that the driver was operating on Bassett well above the posted limit. He failed to stop at Dover Center and proceeded across the street into the home. Luckily, no one in the home was injured. A 22yo male from Wellington was cited with failure to control and reckless operation.
Missing Kias
On 6/3/23 at approx. 12:45AM a female called WPD to report that she was in a vehicle in the parking lot of Sonesta Suites when 2 males, wearing surgical masks, approached her vehicle but fled when they noticed she was in the car with another person. Officers arrived but did not find the males who had entered a silver vehicle and drove away. A short while later, the officers found an unoccupied Kia parked all by itself in an adjacent parking lot for the Double Tree Hotel. The vehicle had a peeled column. It had been reported as stolen out of Cleveland. Cleveland PD declined to collect the vehicle so Westlake Detectives processed the car for evidence. Later the same day, WPD received a call about another Kia that had been stolen out of the parking lot of the Sonesta Suites overnight. A pile of glass was all that was left where the rental vehicle had been parked. The Kia was later recovered on W70th in Cleveland. Evidence was recovered from the vehicle.
3.75 Times Legal Limit!
On 6/4/23 at about 4PM officers were dispatched to the intersection of Hilliard and Clague for a motor vehicle collision. Investigation revealed that a car on Hilliard entered the intersection through a red light and struck a car on Clague. The driver of the at fault vehicle appeared to everyone, including the officers on scene, to be intoxicated. He had trouble maintaining his balance and was slurring his speech. After performing field sobriety tests, the 56yo Rocky River male was arrested for OVI. He took a breath test at the Westlake Jail and was found to be over 3 and 3/4 times the legal limit. His license was suspended for this, his 4th OVI arrest. Luckily, no one reported any injuries from the crash.
Suspicious Persons
On 6/5/23 at approx. 3:30AM officers on patrol noted 2 people sitting at the entrance to Wyndgate Ct at Crocker Rd. They stopped to speak with the individuals when a male fled the area on foot. A female remained sitting. She said that she had no idea who the guy was that just ran away. She claimed that amazingly she had just met him on the street when he asked for a cigarette. While officers looked for the male who fled, investigation into the highly intoxicated female revealed that she was in possession of crack cocaine as well as a glass smoking pipe. The 35yo Parma resident was arrested and charged with felony possession of drugs and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Patrol drones and officers did not locate the unknown male.
