The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
More Trouble for this Guy
On 9/6/25 at about 10:45PM, a concerned citizen called WPD to report that a black sedan was weaving through all 3 lanes of traffic on I90 W/B in the area of Columbia. Officers also witnessed the Lincoln drive over the lane lines. The car was stopped in Avon by the Westlake officers. The driver appeared intoxicated and officers noted that he was wearing a GPS monitoring ankle bracelet due to an undisclosed prior conviction. The 34yo Avon man was field tested and arrested for OVI. In the car, the officers located burned foil and a cut plastic straw with caked on residue which was indicative of illicit drug use although the suspect denied use of any intoxicating substance. At the Westlake Jail, the driver refused a urine test and was therefore immediately placed under a driver’s license suspension. Reports indicated that the man had 2 prior OVI convictions on his record.
A Real Runaround!
On 9/7/25 at about 11PM, officers on patrol noticed a vehicle commit several traffic violations on I90 W/B. Upon running the plate they also learned that the registered owner had several warrants entered for her arrest including one for felony theft out of Lorain County. They tried to stop the vehicle as it was entering Lorain County. The driver did not comply with the officers lights and siren and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. Soon the opportunity presented for the PIT trained officers to attempt to stop the fleeing suspect. The PIT (Pursuit Intervention Technique) maneuver was used to spin the suspect vehicle. Unfortunately, the suspect chose to then drive the wrong way on the highway in a continued attempt to flee. The original officers did not continue the pursuit but other Westlake officers located the suspect vehicle off the highway in the area of Nagle and Detroit. The suspect female driver again refused to pull over and Westlake officers pursued the vehicle E/B on Detroit back into Westlake. The suspect entered I90 E/B at Crocker. Rocky River officers set up with stop sticks (tire deflation devices) on I90. The suspect vehicle did strike the devices and several tires began to deflate. A Westlake Officer again utilized the PIT maneuver to spin out the suspect vehicle as it slowed due to lost tires. This time conditions allowed the officers to box in the suspect car. The female, later confirmed to be the registered owner of the vehicle, exited the driver’s door while carrying a large purse like bag and was apparently talking on her cell phone. Eventually, she did listen to the officers on scene and was arrested without further incident. The 39yo female, who listed a Westlake address, was charged with felony fleeing, driving under suspension and several traffic violations. The suspect was turned over to Lorain County Sheriff Deputies after waiving her preliminary hearing in Rocky River Municipal Court.
Shoplifter Steals Police SUV
On 9/10/25 at approx. 12:20PM, WPD received a call from loss prevention at Giant Eagle concerning a shoplifter. A man was seen taking off with a cart full of groceries without paying for anything. When confronted by store employees, the suspect ran away into the wooded area adjacent to the shopping center. A plain clothes Westlake PD Detective was in the area and located the described man in the area of Savannah Pkwy. The suspect ran from the Detective after threatening the officer with a can of mace. A foot chase ensued where the suspect eventually doubled back to the Detective’s unmarked police car. The thief was able to steal the police SUV despite the fact that the keys were in the Detective’s possession. Investigators quickly tracked the stolen vehicle using technology and it was located in the city of Avon within 10 minutes of the vehicle theft. Westlake officers blocked in the SUV and arrested the male without further incident. There were no reported injuries. The suspect was identified as a 52yo Cleveland man who also had a warrant out of the State Highway Patrol for failure to appear. Grocery store receipts show the man had attempted to take off with over $200 worth of salmon, London broil and other meat. Charges include Robbery and Felony theft. Additional violations will be presented to the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury.
All Over the Road
On 9/11/25 at about 9:45PM, WPD officers responded to a report of a white Lincoln which, according to the concerned motorist, was “all over the road.” Cruisers caught up with the described vehicle before it entered I90 W/B from Columbia Rd. The female operator appeared intoxicated and kept dropping documents on the floorboard of the car as she looked for her insurance. Reports note that the driver had to steady herself against the outside of the vehicle as she listened to the instructions for the field sobriety tests. She denied consuming any alcohol despite the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath. Officers noted that they stopped a balance test due to the driver’s extreme level of intoxication. The 52yo Sheffield Lake resident was arrested for OVI. She refused a chemical test to determine her level of intoxication and was therefore immediately placed under a license suspension. She was charged with OVI, refusing a chemical test and failure to signal. Charges of menacing are also being filed as she threatened the lives of the officers during the encounter.
“Way More Than I Should Have”
On 9/12/25 at about 7PM, WPD received a call from a concerned citizen who observed an apparently intoxicated female near a vehicle in a parking lot of the 24000 block of Center Ridge Rd. The caller saw the woman sitting on the ground talking to herself then stand up and stumble into the side of her “Jeep.” Officers arrived to find the woman in the driver’s seat of the running vehicle which was actually a Land Rover. The driver appeared inebriated. When asked how much she had to drink before getting behind the wheel, the driver said that she had “way more than I probably should have.” The 39yo Avon woman was arrested and charged with having physical control of a vehicle while intoxicated. She refused a breath test and was later released from the Westlake Jail to a sober friend.
Surprise Dog Bite
On 9/17/25 at approx. 11:30AM, officers were dispatched to the WestSpring Inn on the report of a dog bite. The clerk at the hotel had gone to a room to check on the renters who had been due to check out. Upon receiving no answer at the door, the man opened the door and was attacked by the dog, described as a pit bull. The victim had been bitten twice on the leg before he could get away from the animal. He declined transport to the hospital for treatment. Westlake Animal Control is following up with the owners of the dog who admitted that the animal had not been vaccinated.
Car Crash at Westwood & Walter
On 9/17/25 at about 11:10AM, WPD received multiple 911 calls about a motor vehicle crash at Westwood and Walter. Officers and Westlake Fire Paramedics arrived to find that the 1 car crash had resulted in no injuries. The man operating the white CR-V had swerved to avoid stopped traffic causing him to lose control, cross over the sidewalk and onto a residential lawn. The vehicle slid into the roadside ditch and had to be towed from the scene. No citations were issued.
Reckless Driver Sends 2 to Hospital
On 9/18/25 at approx. 6:36PM, Westlake officers were alerted that Bay Village PD was in a vehicle pursuit with a Buick sedan. The Bay Village PD pursuit soon entered Westlake on Dover Center Rd where Bay Village called off their chase. Westlake officers saw the suspect vehicle short cut the intersection of Dover and Detroit by driving recklessly through the parking lot of the car wash on the corner. The driver was still operating recklessly despite the fact that no officers were following him. Realizing that the suspect was still putting the public in danger by driving without regard to anyone’s safety through a lot where there are often times pedestrians vacuuming cars and walking around, the Westlake officers attempted to stop the car again. Again, the suspect driver ignored the lights and sirens of police cruisers and continued his reckless fleeing E/B on Detroit Rd. Within seconds Westlake officers called off the pursuit for a second time due to concerns of the man’s dangerous actions. Unfortunately, the suspect did not slow down or stop for the red light at Canterbury and Detroit and struck a citizen’s vehicle in the intersection. The suspect as well as 1 innocent driver were taken to UH St. John Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. Hypodermic needles and other drug paraphernalia were recovered from the car that fled. The suspect male, a 42yo Cleveland man, was later released from the hospital and is currently in the Westlake City Jail. Charges of Felony Fleeing and Driving with a suspended license were filed through Rocky River Municipal Court. Additional charges, which may include vehicular assault, will be presented to the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury. The man was already wanted by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff Dept for Dangerous Drugs and Felony Theft. In addition, Brooklyn PD had warrants for the man for larceny.
Driving Under Suspension
On September 8, 2025 at 8:24 pm, a traffic stop was conducted near Sutcliffe/Wolf Rd. The owner/operator of the vehicle was showing suspended with an active warrant out of Painesville. The male was conveyed and turned over to Painesville. The 25-year-old Painesville resident was issued a citation for driving under suspension, display of plates, and open container. He will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Hiding in the Closet
On September 9, 2025 at 1:10 pm, a resident called police stating they heard a lot of screaming from a house on Huntmere Drive. Police were also learned that an individual at the home had an active protection order through the courts. Police spoke with parties on scene who denied the subject male was in the home. A search of the home was conducted, and the male was located hiding in a closet. The male was charged with violation of a protection order and obstructing official business. The female and another family member involved were charged with obstructing justice. The three will face charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Dog Attack
On September 10, 2025 at 5:21 pm, BVPD received a 911 call from a resident stating his dog was just attacked by two other dogs on Kenilworth. BVPD responded and the dog owner was able to point the home where the dogs belong to. Information was gathered for a report. The owner was issued a citation for dog at large. The 33-year-old Bay Village resident will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Attempted Break-In
On September 11, 2025 at 8:00 am, a resident in the 24000 block of Lake Road contacted BVPD to report someone attempted to enter their auto. The resident stated his Telsa picked up video footage around 3:03 am of the incident. Two suspects, dressed all in black, were seen approaching on bicycles. One stayed at the road where the other pulled on the door handles of both vehicles. When the suspects realized both vehicles were locked, they rode away, continuing westbound on Lake Road. The Bay Village Police Department asks residents to please contact the police if you have information regarding the incident or any similar occurrence.
Cranky Homeowner
On September 11, 2025 at 1:33 pm, a resident on Canterbury Road contacted BVPD upset at sewer work being done at the back of her property which prohibited her landscaper from doing his work. The resident further stated if BVPD didn’t remove the workers she would be contacting the Sheriff. Officers responded and spoke with the crew, who advised they are contractors who have mandatory sewer work to complete. The crew stated they were being harassed by the homeowner and even offered to move their trucks if that helped. The resident was advised to have no further contact, or they could be issued a citation.
Extracted from Vehicle
On September 11, 2025 3:51 pm, multiple 911 calls received for a two-car accident on Wolf/ Forestview. BVPD & BVFD responded to the scene. The driver of one vehicle needed to be extracted from the vehicle. The at-fault vehicle failed to yield to traffic on Wolf Rd when traveling south bound from Forestview. The driver was issued a citation for Right of Way. The 50-year-old Lakewood resident will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
