The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
Ambulance Heisted from Hospital Grounds
Why in the world would anyone think they could get away with stealing an ambulance? The far-fetched idea was put into action on June 29 at 8 p.m. when Westlake Police received a call from a private ambulance company reporting that one of their ambulance vans had been stolen from UH St. John Medical Center. There had been no patient in the van when taken.
Luckily, the ambulance had GPS tracking and Amherst and Oberlin Police Departments located the moving vehicle. Oberlin PD attempted to stop the ambulance and ended up arresting the driver after a pursuit. The 33 year old suspect from Cleveland was taken to the Lorain County Jail and the undamaged ambulance was returned to its rightful owner.
Man Lays Down on Railroad Tracks and Survives Train Crossing
A Westlake man who abandoned his BMW on the Lorain Road I-480 overpass early July 4th morning survived a passing train after he had laid down on the tracks below.
The incredible incident began on July 4 at 810 hours when the North Ridgeville Police Dept. received a call from Norfolk Southern Railway dispatch advising of an eastbound train striking a subject in the area of the SR 83 railroad crossing. A second call (911) from a railway employee identified the location to be approximately 500 feet east of the Chestnut Ridge crossing almost directly underneath the State Route 10 overpass where a male was located lying on the tracks.
Preliminary investigation revealed the 42 year old male subject from Westlake was driving a 2015 white BMW X5 eastbound on State Route 10/I480 and stopped the vehicle on the railroad overpass.
The vehicle was unoccupied with the engine running when located by police.
The male subject was located below lying parallel within the train tracks. The Engineer of the eastbound train observed the subject lying in the tracks. However, he was unable to stop the train in time and continued traveling over the body on the tracks. For most part, the undercarriage of the train cleared the body lying below.
The male was found to be conscious with an apparent serious head injury and was transported to U.H. St. John Medical Center in Westlake by the NRFD. The male was then life-flighted to Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland.
The male subject will not be identified at this time pending notification to family. The NRPD will be continuing the investigation with the assistance of the Norfolk Southern Railway.
No further information will be released at this time.
I-90 Bike Ride Busted in Westlake
Some people just don’t get it – bicycles don’t belong on an interstate highway. That notion escaped a 53-year old Lakewood woman on June 30 at 6:40 a.m. A motorist called Westlake police to report the cyclist pedalling near Clague Road. An officer located the bicyclist as reported. The female refused to stop for the officer and ended up pedaling up the Detroit Rd exit ramp. She was finally stopped at the top of the ramp but was uncooperative with the officers who had to physically prevent her from biking into traffic. After a brief struggle, the female was arrested and later transported to the hospital for an evaluation. The suspect was charged with resisting arrest, failure to comply, and prohibited use of a bicycle on a highway. Both the officer and the suspect received minor injuries.
Rough Ride
No, she hadn’t struck anything ‘recently,’ reported a 27-year old female driver to Westlake Police when she was observed weaving and driving on a flat tire on July 1 at 12:11 a.m. Police were alerted via a phone call about a possible OVI on I-90 near Crocker Road.
The caller also witnessed the suspect vehicle strike a curb and continue on. Officers caught up with the vehicle on I-90 near Clague and observed the same erratic driving. In addition to the flat tire, the operator was driving with an expired license plate. After stopping the operator, the officers asked her if she had hit anything. The 27yo from Beachwood said that she did not know but added that she had not struck anything “recently.” She was field tested and arrested for OVI. Later the female submitted to a breath test and was found to be .119 BAC. She was charged with weaving, OVI, BAC, and expired plates.
Yep, He Stole Dog Food!!
It’s easy to be stupid in the summer! Just ask the guy who got caught shoplifting dog food at Crocker Park during one of it’s busiest security days of the year.
Despite Westlake’s deployment of numerous officers and other resources to Crocker Park for security during the annual Liberty Fest Independence Day Event July 1, there were – inexplicably, even with all the visible officers, marked cruisers and bike patrol in the area – 4 reported thefts/shopliftings at Crocker Park between 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.
In all, 3 people were arrested leaving Giant Eagle after shoplifting meat and dog food in 2 separate incidents. One of these, a 46 year old male from Cleveland, already had a theft warrant from WPD. Another incident was a reported theft from an employee at Bar Louie. That investigation is still ongoing. The last involved a lost or stolen cell phone which was recovered by officers with no prosecution desired.
Lost Credit Card Used in Fraud
On 7/2/18 at 3:32 p.m., a complainant reported that someone had stolen his credit card and then used it fraudulently. A few days before, he had been shopping at a store at Crocker Park when he accidentally left the card in a card reader at the check out. An unknown female is seen on surveillance video taking the card which was later used at another Crocker Park store. If anyone recognizes the female suspect in the attached surveillance photos please contact the Westlake Police Department on the non-emergency phone at 440-871-3311.
Pistol Magazine in Plain View
On 7/4/18 at approx. 6 p.m., after observing suspicious activity at the Super 8 Motel, a Westlake officer stopped a vehicle leaving the area for a traffic violation. While speaking with the driver, the alert officer noticed a semi-auto pistol magazine in plain view. When asked, the driver admitted to possession of a firearm as well as a switch blade knife. The 38yo from Fairview Park did not have a concealed carry permit. The male was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, improper handling of a firearm and carrying a various prohibited weapon (switchblade).
Quiet Bay Days
Bay Days 2018 was one of the quietest ever, unusually so, report Bay Village Police. Maybe it was the heat…
One gal had a bad night, however. On 07/05/2018, at 12:13 hrs, an 18-year old Avon Lake resident arrived at the station to report her wallet had been stolen. She was seated with a friend in the Cahoon Park field while attending the 4th of July fireworks display. Her wallet had been lying on the ground next to her, as evidenced by a “selfie” she had taken. After the fireworks was over, she began gathering her things, but could not locate her wallet. Before she was able to cancel her debit card a purchase was made at a gas station in Lorain. Information was taken for a report.
Bank Customer Fails Sobriety Check
A bank customer who made a large deposit in the alcohol consumption department failed a sobriety test at a Bay Village bank last week. On 06/28/2018, at 12:26 hrs, Bay Village police officers were dispatched to Citizen’s Bank on Dover Center Road on the report of a customer who was possibly intoxicated. The male had reportedly exited the bank and drove away, but he had returned and was now sitting in a black Subaru. Responding officers located the male and eventually arrested him for OVI. The 52-year old Bay Village resident will be facing charges in Rocky River Municipal Court.
Funny Money is from ‘Frat House’
On 06/29/2018, at 01:50 hrs, an officer stopped a Mazda CX-5 near Lake and Longbeach after observing it to be travelling without headlights. A 17-year old Bay Village resident was driving. The driver gave consent for the vehicle to be searched. During the search, the officer found $600.00 worth of counterfeit twenty-dollar bills. The driver said that they belonged to his adult brother who had supposedly bought them for fun, “at his frat house.” The money was seized and the driver was released at the scene. Investigation is pending.
Man Arrested with Knife
On 07/01/2018, at 19:25 hrs, officers were dispatched to the report of a black Honda operating recklessly east bound on Lake Road from Bassett Road. Officers located and stopped the Honda. While speaking to the driver the officer who initiated the traffic stop observed in plain view, a large, silver fixed blade knife lying on the floorboard. The 48-year old male from Cleveland was told to exit the vehicle whereupon he was handcuffed. When asked about the knife the male said it was for protection. During the search of the Honda prior to the tow, marijuana and drug paraphernalia was located. The male was taken to the station for processing before being released on personal bond.
OVI
On 06/30/2018, at 00:56 hrs, an officer stopped a Cadillac Escalade after seeing multiple traffic violations that typically suggest an impaired driver. After failing field sobriety tests, the 52-year old Bay Village resident was arrested for OVI. He was processed back at the station before being released on personal bond to a sober adult.
Right Spot to File a Claim
If you’re going to wreck your car by driving into a building, what better place to do it than an insurance office? Fairview Police received a call that a car struck a pole and then drove into a building on Lorain Rd on July 8 at 2:30 in the morning. Upon arrival, officers found a vehicle against the side of an insurance building (!!) which it had struck. It wasn’t open for business yet…. The car had first struck a utility pole on the opposite side of the street, caromed off of the pole, went across all 4 lanes of travel, and drove into the side of the building.
The male driver was still in the driver’s seat of the heavily damaged vehicle. Four of the airbags had deployed in the collisions. After stating he wasn’t hurt, he was asked to exit the vehicle. He smelled of an alcoholic beverage, was unable to maintain balance, and was giving nonsensical answers to questions. An injury to his arm was noted, and the paramedics stated due to his apparently intoxicated state, that he was not capable of deciding if he should go to the hospital, so they were going to transport him. The officer administered the HGN sobriety test prior to their leaving, observing all six signs of intoxication on that test.
At the hospital, the 24 year old Fairview Park man was asked to submit to a blood test, and he consented. A sample was taken and was later taken to the medical examiner’s office for analysis. He was cited for OVI and Failure to Control. A possible BAC charge may follow after the blood is analyzed.
Pizza Parties
A W 223rd St resident reported unauthorized charges on his debit card totaling $62 on July 8. He was checking his account balance and noticed 3 charges for Domino’s Pizza, all three originating in different states. The debit card has been cancelled and the bank is investigating on their end.
Lights Out
At least he made it through the fireworks! An officer on patrol observed a male laying on a lawn of a residence on Woodstock Ave. at 2:30 a.m. July 4. The officer went to check on the male, and it took several attempts before he was able to wake him. The male smelled strongly of an alcoholic beverage, had slurred speech, difficulty answering questions, and could not stand without assistance. He was placed under arrest for Disorderly Conduct: Intoxication and held till sober before being released on bond. Remember the old saying: “He who goes forth in the Fourth with a fifth, may not live to go forth on the fifth!” lol.
Toddler to Cop: “I Don’t Like it When Mommy Drives Fast”
A toddler told police that he ‘didn’t like it when mommy drives fast’ after a Fairview Park Police officer stopped a car on July 1 that was doing 72 in a 40 MPH zone.
That was just the beginning of the end for the 30-year old Fairview Park woman behind the wheel. She also failed sobriety tests, blew a .258 BAC and was charged with child endangering.
The sequence of events took place July 1 at 1659 hours at W. 220 and Brookpark. An officer on patrol on Brookpark Rd observed a vehicle travelling w/b at an extremely high speed. Using his vehicle’s radar, he clocked the car going 72 mph in the 40 mph zone. As he continued watching he saw the vehicle swerve and strike the right curb.
When the vehicle passed his unit, he made a u-turn and stopped the vehicle after it had turned north onto W 220 St. When he approached the vehicle, he saw a female driver and a young (6 years old) male crying in the back seat. The officer first talked with the child who stated he was crying because he didn’t like it when mommy drives fast, and later also said mommy was hitting things with the car. Talking with the driver, the officer noted a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage, slurred speech so bad that he could not understand her when stating her last name, and also watery, bloodshot eyes.
He had her exit the car for sobriety tests. She failed all tests given and did not do well in following the directions given. She was placed under arrest for OVI. Her mother was called and responded to the scene to take custody of the child.
At the station she was given a breath test, result of .258 BAC, more than three times the legal limit. The 30 year old Fairview Park woman was charged with OVI, BAC, Speed, and Endangering Children. She was placed under an immediate license suspension due to the high BAC, and was released to a responsible adult on personal bond.
Drug Deal Busted at Crocker Park
Westlake Police busted a drug deal at Crocker Park after suspicious activity led to a traffic stop that revealed more than 100 grams of marijuana.
The deal went down on June 24 a 9:01 p.m. Police report that they had observed suspicious activity in a parking lot of Crocker Park/The Promenade. It appeared that the occupants had participated in a drug deal in the lot. A Westlake PD K9 unit was called to the scene. The drug detection dog alerted to the vehicle. More than 100 grams of marijuana was located as well as a scale and other paraphernalia. An 18yo from Westlake was arrested and charged with Trafficking in drugs. Another 18yo from Westlake was charged with obstruction as well as possession of marijuana.
