The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
PIT Techniques Takes Out Reckless Driver
On 7/10/26 at about 11:30AM, WPD received a call from a concerned motorist reporting a reckless tan vehicle on I90 W/B. The caller described that the SUV was driving recklessly, had struck a median wall in Cleveland and had almost struck other vehicles. As WPD officers arrived in the area, the caller also reported that the suspect was driving on her rims. WPD found the Honda CRV after it passed Columbia Rd. The vehicle was weaving and had already lost a tire. The operator did not stop for the officers’ lights and siren but continued to weave W/B. Realizing that the driver was a danger to the public while weighing the perils of a prolonged vehicle pursuit, the PIT trained officer utilized a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) to spin out the suspect while other WPD officers kept innocent traffic away from the incident. The woman driving was not deterred but would have continued on driving the wrong way in the grass except that other Westlake Officers used their cruiser to box in the suspect vehicle. The woman finally followed lawful orders and got out of her car. Apparently unaware what was happening, the 52yo LaGrange resident appeared confused. She was arrested and taken to the hospital for evaluation. She was charged with driving under suspension, felony failure to comply and traffic offenses. Investigators are still gathering evidence for possible additional charges.
Drunk and Parked on Road
On 7/11/26 at approx. 7PM a concerned citizen called in a reckless work truck on Center Ridge Rd. The truck almost hit another vehicle before the operator just parked it in the driving lane of Center Ridge Rd. The male driver simply exited the abandoned truck and started walking away. A couple of minutes later, another caller reported that the same man was now asleep in his yard. Officers arrived to find the man confused on why he had parked his truck on the street. Reports note that he had also struck a roadside mailbox on Center Ridge. The 41yo from Seven Hills appeared intoxicated. He said he had been golfing that day. Officers asked him how many holes he played. The man said “all of ‘em.” They then asked the man how many drinks he had today. The man again replied “all of ‘em.” The officers believed him. The driver was field tested and arrested for OVI. He was charged with OVI, and impeding traffic. He refused a breath test.
Fraud Attempted
On 7/14/26 at about 5:45PM, a citizen responded to the WPD station to report being the victim of a fraud. The 28yo Westlake resident had received an unexpected phone call from a person purporting to be from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department. The “officer” told her that she had missed her summons to appear for jury duty and now had a warrant for her arrest. She now had to pay a “bond” to keep from getting arrested. The fake deputy directed the victim to a web site and instructed her to take out $13,000 cash from her bank. She was on the way to make the withdraw when luckily she spoke to a family friend who advised her she was being scammed. Although she was not out any money, she unfortunately entered personal information and her photo to the web site. An identity theft report was taken. ***WPD reminds all to be very wary of unexpected phone calls, emails, pop-up ads or text messages indicating that there is something wrong. Often these tell people that they are in trouble with the law or their computer is infected with illegal material. If anyone instructs you to take large amounts of cash from your accounts to buy gift cards, crypto currency or wire transfers, it is a scam. Additional indicators include instructions to make up a story for your bank and not to tell anyone including your family and friends. No legitimate business or law enforcement agency will use these tactics.***
Three-Car Crash
On 7/14/26 at approx. 7:30PM, officers responded to the report of a 3 car traffic crash with injuries at the intersection of Columbia and Westwood. One person was entrapped in a vehicle and had to be extracted by the Westlake Fire Dept. The roadway was closed for about an hour while the scene was investigated and cleaned up. 2 persons were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. A 3yo child was a passenger in one of the vehicles but was not injured. WPD Therapy K9 Emily responded to the scene with her Sgt handler to comfort the child who was understandably shaken up. Investigation revealed that a vehicle on Westwood failed to stop at a red traffic signal and collided with the vehicles on Columbia. A 37yo Fairview Park man was cited with disobeying a traffic control device.
Wandering Man
On 7/16/26 at about 10PM officers responded to a hotel on Sperry for a report of a suspicious male. Staff called to report that the man was wandering around the pool, was looking into vehicles and put his arm around a female in the elevator. They did not believe he was a guest of the establishment. Officers arrived and talked to the man. He was there with someone else and had a felony warrant out for his arrest for dangerous drugs as well as misdemeanor warrants for driving under suspension from 2 other agencies. He was arrested and transported to the Cuyahoga County Justice Center to answer to the felony charge.
Fraud Victim
On 7/17/26 at about 5:30PM, WPD received a call from a woman who reported being the victim of a fraud. The 37yo indicated that she had received a phone call from a “Lt. Cooper” who informed her that she had a warrant out of the Sandusky Sheriff’s Department for not appearing for federal jury duty. She was instructed to pay her fine via a Crypto ATM in Westlake and to take the receipt to WPD to clear the warrant. The victim did as instructed and deposited $2000 into the Coin Hub machine at a convenience store on Detroit Rd. She then realized that she was the victim of a scam. A report was taken.
Witnesses Took Her Keys
On 7/18/26 at approx. 2:45PM, WPD received a call from a motorist who reported being involved in a motor vehicle crash in the parking lot of the Get Go at Center Ridge and Columbia Rds. The caller indicated that the woman driving the at-fault vehicle appeared intoxicated and had urinated herself. Before officers got there, the suspect tried to leave in her red Jeep but witnesses took her keys. When officers arrived they noted fresh damage on the Jeep. The woman driving appeared intoxicated and, despite denying it, she had obviously urinated her pants. The 71yo Fairview Park woman agreed that she probably had too much to drink to be driving. When asked what she had been drinking the driver said that she had one of the “boxed wines.” The woman was field tested and arrested for OVI. Reports note that the officers had to help her from falling over. The driver was transported to jail where she refused a breath test. An open box of Vendange brand wine was found in the vehicle. The woman was cited with OVI, driving under suspension and possession of an open container of alcohol while operating a motor vehicle. Her suspension was due to an OVI arrest in April of this year. No one was injured in the minor vehicle collision.
Tire Explosion
On 7/21/26 at approx. 5:15PM, WPD received a 911 call from a woman who reported that a tire on her Kia “exploded” when she was driving on I90. She pulled over with the flat but indicated that she did not have anyone to help her. Officers responded and changed the tire for her.
Dog Dispute
On 7/20/26 at about 8:15PM, officers were dispatched to the Sonesta Suites on Clemens for a dispute about a dog. A guest of the hotel indicated that they were bitten by a dog. The hotel staff reported that the animal belonged to a man who had already been thrown out of the hotel but was still hanging around the area. Officers located the dog owner, a 66yo man from Shaker Hts. The man had warrants for a prior dog nuisance violation out of Cleveland PD and another warrant for a traffic violation out of Brunswick PD. Investigation revealed that the dog actually did not bite the other person but just bumped into them. The man was arrested and turned over to Brunswick officers. The dog was advised to keep his nose to himself and was turned over to a friend of the owner who was staying at the nearby Extended Stay Hotel.
Looking for “Free Items”
On 7/21/26 at about 11PM, WPD received notification of a business alarm at Asbury Care Center on Westchester Pkwy indicating that there was unexpected motion around the construction site. Officers arrived to find 2 men sitting in a truck with no lights on behind the building. After being separated, the men admitted to coming to the property with 1 other male. Their stories ranged from “just exploring” to coming to the site to take “free” items from a construction site dumpster. Investigation revealed that the trio had actually broken into the building and were scared off by the alarm. The 3rd man had fled the scene before officers arrived but was identified. The 2 men on scene, a 19yo from Avon Lake and a 20yo from Lorain were arrested and charged with Felony Breaking and Entering. Warrants were requested for the 3rd man who is also a 19yo from Avon Lake.
Barrington Place Fire
On 7/22/26 Westlake PD and Fire received several 911 calls reporting an apartment fire on Weymouth Cir. A building at the Barrington Place Apartments was fully engulfed when emergency crews arrived. Police Officers and Fire Fighters evacuated apartments in the 1517 building as well as adjacent structures as Fire crews battled the flames. Officers shut down Detroit Rd for about 2 hours to allow firefighters to work safely. No civilian injuries were immediately reported although 2 firefighters sustained minor injuries which were treated on scene.
Firearms & Fentanyl
On 7/22/26 at approx. 11PM, officers stopped a vehicle on Columbia Rd south of Detroit for equipment violations. While speaking to the occupants of the car, open containers of alcohol were observed. Investigation revealed that the car contained 2 loaded firearms as well as pills suspected to contain fentanyl. The driver, a 33yo woman from Parma, was arrested and charged with misdemeanors including failure to comply, carrying a concealed weapon and traffic offenses. The passenger, a 43yo man from Cleveland Hts, was charged with Felony Having Weapons While Under Disability. Reports note that his prior convictions for trafficking in drugs, improper discharge of a gun into a house or school and shooting at a motor vehicle made him ineligible to possess a gun. Additional charges will be presented to the grand jury after the pills are analyzed by the crime lab.
Gas Line Clipped
On 7/24/26 at about 5:45AM, a concerned citizen called to report that a man was standing outside of a black BMW on the roadway in the Settlers Reserve neighborhood. What drew their attention was that the man was apparently yelling loudly creating a noise disturbance. Officers arrived to find that the described vehicle was driving on a flat tire on Settlers Reserve. The operator stopped when the officers pulled him over. As that vehicle was being investigated, WPD and Westlake Fire were called to a house in the 27000 block of Bassett Rd for a report of a natural gas leak. As the resident on Bassett was trying to determine where the gas odor was coming from, he reviewed his surveillance cameras to see a black BMW drive out of control through his yard. The BMW clipped the home gas meter and a water spigot before fleeing the scene. The driver, a 22yo Bay Village man, admitted being involved in the collision with the house. He appeared intoxicated and was field tested. The man was arrested for OVI and hit skip. He refused a breath test. Westlake Fire contacted Columbia Gas to repair the gas line.
Sex Offender Captured
On 7/24/26 at approx. 9PM, officers stopped a car at Crocker and Clemens. The passenger was wanted out of Clayton CO Sheriffs Dept. in Georgia for a probation violation for assault. The 39yo was a registered sexual offender for a prior sexual assault. Georgia confirmed the warrant and indicated he would be extradited. The man was arrested and transported to the Cuyahoga County Jail to await the trip.
Altercation at the Wyndham
On 7/25/26 at approx. 5:30PM, WPD responded to the report of an altercation at the Wyndham Garden Inn on Clemens. A guest complained that a female known to him ripped his shirt and “threw his items out.” The guest explained to the officers that he only knew the woman’s first name and that she had since left in an Uber. The man would not elaborate on how he received visible fresh scratches. The man was allowed to stay but management indicated that the female half was not welcome back on the property due to her behavior. By 9PM officers were called back to the hotel. Employees reported that the same couple were just involved in another physical altercation by the hotel pool and had to be separated. When officers arrived, the woman was already walking down the street. Both persons were stopped separately by officers. Management evicted the man, a 49yo Euclid resident, from the property. He became belligerent and appeared intoxicated. He was arrested for Disorderly Conduct while being Intoxicated. The female, a 29yo out of Cleveland, was found to have a traffic warrant out of the State Highway Patrol. Officers also recognized the woman from a shoplifting report that was taken earlier in the night. Reports note that she still had on the same shirt with the word “MAMA” as was worn during the theft at the nearby Truenorth store. The woman explained that she had gotten into an altercation with the store clerk about vaping in the store so she just left with the product. The woman was arrested and charged with misdemeanor theft.
Carload of Wanted People
On 7/29/26 at about 2:15AM, an officer stopped a vehicle on I90 W/B after learning that the owner of the car was wanted out of Willoughby Hills PD. The driver was the owner. The 38yo Wellington man was arrested. The back seat passenger, a 40yo from Sandusky, was found to have warrants from Erie Co and Lorain County Sheriff Depts. Investigation revealed that the front seat passenger, a 27yo female out of Seven Hills, was in possession of a baggie containing a white crystal-like substance as well as a long glass smoking pipe, a syringe with needle and burnt tinfoil. She was arrested and charged with felony possession of meth. The men were turned over to the other law enforcement agencies.
Car Hits Road Sign
On 7/29/26 at approx. 3:30AM, a caller on 911 reported that they were involved in a 1 vehicle crash on I90 W/B between Crocker and Nagle. The man’s pickup had struck an ODOT roadside sign. He reported no injuries. Alcohol was not suspected to be a factor in the crash. The 18yo driver from Sheffield Lake was cited with failure to control. The vehicle had to be winched out of the grass.
Ebike Hits Street Sign
On 7/30/26 at approx. 11:40AM, callers on 911 reported that a child on an e-bike ran into a street sign at Westwood and Center Ridge and was possibly injured. Officers and paramedics responded to the scene to find that luckily, the 15yo boy only had minor injuries. Investigation revealed that the vehicle was not an e-bike but was an e-motorcycle. The child lost control of the vehicle while driving on the sidewalk. He struck a temporary stop sign. No other vehicle was involved. The child was cited with operating a motor vehicle on the sidewalk. He and the unregistered e-motorcycle were turned over to his parents.
***WPD reminds residents that the difference between an e-bike and e-motorcycle is the lack of any pedals on an e-motorcycle. E-motorcycles have many legal regulations including a driver’s license WITH a Motorcycle endorsement, a license plate issued by the state and insurance. They are not allowed on the sidewalks.
Body Outside Vehicle
On July 12, 2026 at 7:44 pm a BVPD officers observed a vehicle traveling with a passenger who had their body extended outside of the vehicle. A traffic stop was conducted near Bradley Road/Naigle Road. The driver was issued a verbal warning for the traffic violation. The passenger was identified as a juvenile, and their parent was contacted and notified of the incident.
After Hours Juveniles
On July 16, 2026 at 2:24 am, BVPD observed an unoccupied vehicle parked at the Cahoon Walking Path after park hours. Officers located four individuals in the park associated with the vehicle. All four individuals were issued verbal warnings for being in the park after posted hours. One juvenile was also found to be out past curfew, and the juvenile’s parent was contacted and notified of the incident.
EBike Violations
On July 16, 2026 at 10:30 pm, BVPD observed a juvenile operating an electric bicycle near the Lake Road/Rocky River city line. The juvenile was stopped for multiple traffic violations. Officers counseled the juvenile on Ohio laws and local regulations pertaining to the operation of electric bicycles. The juvenile’s parent was notified of the stop and given verbal warnings for the violations.
Multiple Drivers Licenses
On July 17, 2026 at 3:00 pm, BVPD observed a vehicle whose registered owner was listed as having multiple driver’s license suspensions and active warrants. A traffic stop was conducted near Eaton Way and Columbia Road. The female driver was detained and placed in handcuffs. After her warrants were confirmed, officers conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle, which resulted in the discovery of drug paraphernalia, suspected illegal drugs, and an open container of alcohol. When the driver was advised she was under arrest for drug-related offenses, she stated that she needed medical attention and was experiencing suicidal thoughts. EMS was requested, and the female was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. The 36-year- old Cleveland resident was charged with possession of drugs, carrying various weapons, OVI suspension, drug paraphernalia, open container and escape; for not returning to police custody after being discharged. She will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Not-So-Funny
On July 18, 2026 at 3:30 pm, BVPD responded to the Bay Village Public Library after an employee reported an incident involving several juveniles. The employee stated that a juvenile requested to use their cell phone due to an alleged emergency. While the juvenile had possession of the phone, a sound resembling a money transfer notification played. The juveniles then laughed and stated, “You’ve been scammed out of money,” before riding away on their bicycles. Officers located the juveniles a short time later. They stated the sound was a YouTube audio clip intended to make it appear that a financial transaction had occurred and denied taking any money from the employee. The juveniles’ parents were contacted and responded to the scene. The juveniles were counseled regarding their behavior and the consequences of engaging in disorderly conduct that could reasonably cause others to believe they had been the victims of a scam.
Stolen Dogs
On July 20, 2026 at 12:00am, BVPD received a call from a resident reporting that she had received text messages from her ex-partner stating he was going to come to her residence. The resident advised that she was currently at a friend’s home and requested police assistance in returning to her residence. BVPD officers responded to the residence and observed that the garage door was open. Officers entered the home and conducted a protective sweep, clearing the residence. After the resident arrived, she reported that her two dogs were missing from the home. BVPD contacted the Parma Police Department and requested officers respond to the listed address of the ex-partner. Parma PD responded, located the suspect, and detained him. BVPD officers responded to the scene and took custody of the two dogs who were subsequently returned to their owner. The 32-year-old Parma resident was charged with Theft. He will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Business Check Forged
On July 20, 2026 at 11:30 am, A resident responded to BVPD to report that his bank account had been compromised after discovering that an unauthorized check in the amount of $10,000 had cleared his account. BVPD spoke with the resident, who provided a copy of the business check that had been issued to an unknown company without his authorization. The incident appears to involve a forged check. The matter remains under investigation.
Missing Child
On July 20, 2026 at 1:43 pm, BVPD received a 911 call reporting a missing 6-year-old child. The child’s parent advised that while they were on a walk, her daughter, who was riding a bicycle, traveled ahead of her. The parent stated that a vehicle pulled into a driveway, temporarily blocking her view of the child, and she subsequently lost sight of her. BVPD officers responded to the area of Breezewood Drive and Windsor Drive and began searching for the child. Several minutes later, the child was located safe and unharmed in the area of Saddler/Lake Road.
Schizophrenic Driver
On July 20, 2026 at 6:18 pm, BVPD received a call from WLPD advising that one of their residents had backed out of a driveway on Clague Road and was being followed by another vehicle whose driver was reportedly making threats. BVPD located the suspect vehicle in the area of Lake Road and Cahoon Road and conducted a traffic stop. During the investigation, the driver stated that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. The driver was counseled regarding his driving behavior and released. The original complainant was referred to WLPD to complete a report regarding the alleged threats.
Tree Down
On July 21, 2026 at 8:18 am, BVPD responded to the area of Wolf Road and Douglas Drive for a report of a tree that had fallen onto power lines and into the roadway. Upon arrival, officers observed low-hanging power lines and a tree partially blocking the roadway. Officers closed the affected section of the roadway and secured the area with barrier tape until the electric company could respond. The homeowner was advised that the electric utility had been notified and would be responding to address the hazard. The homeowner was also instructed to avoid the front yard until the area was deemed safe.
Neighborly Dispute
On July 21, 2026 at 11:34 am, A resident contacted BVPD regarding an ongoing parking dispute with a neighbor. The resident reported that the neighbor was upset because the resident was legally parking a vehicle on the street in front of the neighbor’s residence. The resident was advised of available options for addressing the dispute and instructed to contact BVPD if any further issues or disturbances occurred involving the neighbor.
Threats of Self Harm
On July 21, 2026 at 12:26 pm BVPD conducted a traffic stop in the area of Lincoln/Lindford after identifying a driver with an active BVPD warrant for Violation of a Temporary Protection Order. The driver was taken into custody and became upset during the arrest. The driver intentionally struck his head against the cruiser door and made threats of self-harm. BVFD responded to the scene and transported the male to a local hospital for an involuntary psychiatric hold. He will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Open Container
On July 22, 2026 at 8:52 pm, BVPD conducted a traffic stop in the area of Dover Road and Normandy Road. Upon making contact with the driver, officers observed open alcoholic containers inside the vehicle. A probable cause search was subsequently conducted. The driver, a 28-year-old Maple Heights resident, was issued a citation for failure to reinstate his license and open container. The passenger, 27-year-old Parma Heights resident, was issued a citation for open container. The two will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Dog Bite
On July 23, 2026 at 2:00 pm, A resident responded to BVPD to report a dog bite that occurred in the area of Knickerbocker Road near Fordham Road. BVPD responded and spoke with the victim, who advised they were bitten on the arm by a medium-sized dog. The victim provided officers with the address where the dog was located. BVPD responded to the residence and obtained the owner’s information and the dog’s information for the report. The Animal Control Officer will be following up regarding the incident.
Stolen Merchandise
On July 23, 2026 at 2:00 pm, BVPD responded to Verizon for a report of an employee suspected of stealing company products. The reporting employee advised that the suspect was allegedly ordering items through customers’ accounts and having the products shipped to the store. The suspect would then cancel the orders to prevent the transactions from appearing on the customers’ accounts. The estimated value of the stolen merchandise is approximately $12,000. The incident remains under investigation.
Dirt Bike Complaints
On July 25, 2026 at 7:33 pm, BVPD was contacted by Avon Lake Police Department advising of a traffic complaint involving dirt bikes traveling eastbound on Lake Road into Bay Village while performing stunts. BVPD responded to the area and activated emergency lights. Two dirt bikes came to a stop, and both riders were detained pending further investigation. The 27-year-old Cleveland resident was issued a citation for driving under suspension and no valid motorcycle endorsement and expired unlawful license plates. The 26-year-old Cleveland resident was issued a citation for no valid motorcycle endorsement. Both bikes were impounded and both drivers will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Paddleboarder Rescued
On July 26, 2026 at 1:03 pm, BVPD and BVFD responded to a report of a paddleboarder in distress who advised 911 that she could see Columbia Beach in the distance. Emergency units responded to the area, and the BVFD drone was deployed to assist with locating the paddleboarder. While on the phone with 911, the female reported that she had made it to a rocky section of the shoreline. Members of the BVFD Westshore Water Rescue team reached the female and safely assisted her back to land using private shoreline access from a nearby residence. The female sustained only minor injuries and was escorted back to her vehicle.
Huntington Beach Assault
On July 26, 2026 at 8:30 pm, BVPD was requested to provide mutual aid at Huntington Beach for a reported assault. Officers responded to the scene and detained a juvenile until officers from Metro Parks Police arrived. Once Metro Parks Police assumed control of the investigation, the scene was turned over to their agency for further handling.
Cooling Off Period
On July 27, 2026 at 6:24 pm, BVPD received an open 911 call during which a couple could be heard arguing in the background but did not respond to the dispatcher. Officers responded to the residence and made contact with both individuals. After speaking with the residents, officers determined the incident was a verbal argument regarding the cost of repairing a vehicle. One of the residents voluntarily agreed to leave for the evening to allow the situation to de-escalate. No further action was taken.
Lost Property
On July 28, 2026 at 10:09 am, BVPD was dispatched to Speedway on a report of a theft. The caller stated she believed someone had stolen her wallet from her vehicle while she was pumping gas. Officers reviewed surveillance footage from the business, which showed that no one entered the caller’s vehicle during that time. Based on the investigation, the incident appeared to be a lost property report. The caller was advised to contact her local law enforcement agency to file a lost property report.
Dog Incident
On July 28, 2026 at 12:13 pm, BVPD responded to a residence on Narragansett Drive after a resident reported that their dog had been bitten by another resident’s dog approximately one hour earlier. The caller had already returned from the veterinarian and wished to document the incident. Officers contacted the other dog owner and gathered the necessary information to complete a dog bite report. The 71-year-old Bay Village resident was charged with Dog at large. He will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Suspected Contraband
On July 28, 2026 at 8:34 pm, BVPD officers observed a traffic violation near Columbia Road and the railroad crossing and conducted a traffic stop. During the investigation, both the driver and passenger were detained. A probable cause search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of suspected contraband. The passenger was found to have active warrants through the North Olmsted and Parma Police Departments. Both agencies confirmed the warrants but advised officers to release the individual due to staffing limitations. The passenger was released at the scene. The driver was arrested and transported to the BVPD jail, where they were booked and held pending an appearance before a judge. The 37-year-old Cleveland resident was charged with unsafe vehicle, seat belt, possession of drugs, carrying various weapons, and drug paraphernalia. The following day he was seen through virtual arraignment. The male was convicted of no seat belt and unsafe vehicle. His felony case was bound over to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
Erratic Driver
On July 31, 2026 at 11:52pm, Bay Village Police were notified by Avon Lake Police that an erratic driver/possible OVI was heading east on Lake Road from their city. Bay Village Police caught up to the vehicle and witnessed the erratic operation, eventually stopping the vehicle in the area of Lake Road and Porter Creek Drive. While speaking with the operator, police noted signs of impairment. The male, a 73-year-old Avon Lake resident, failed field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest. On station, the male was given a breath test which show a .102% blood alcohol content. The male is facing charges in Rocky River Municipal Court.
