Arrest Made in Westlake-Bay Village Hit-Skip Incidents

4/10 /20 update.  Felonious assault charges for both the Westlake and Bay Village incidents were filed today.  The defendant, Shayla Harris, was seen in Rocky River Municipal Court via video from the Westlake Jail.  Harris waived her preliminary hearing and was bound over to the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury.  Her bond was set at $250,000 cash or surety on the Westlake cases and $250,000 cash or surety on the Bay Village case.  Harris was ordered to have no contact with any of the victims and her license was suspended pending further court action.

Westlake Police report that an arrest has been made in recent hit-skip incidents in Westlake and Bay Village, citing one suspect in serial events.

Police report, “On 4/4/20 at approx. 9:41PM officers responded to Caroline Circle for a report of a 22-yo who was struck by a vehicle when she was walking to collect the mail.  The suspect sedan drove up over the curb and onto the sidewalk before striking the pedestrian, a Westlake resident, who reportedly lost consciousness after being hit.  She was able to walk home and call for help.  The vehicle did not stop.  The female victim was transported to the hospital with non-left threatening injuries.  Officers searched the area that night but could not locate the hit skip vehicle.

“On Tues 4/7/20 at about 9:15PM WPD received a 911 call from a pedestrian on Cahoon Rd reporting that she, along with her friend and their dog, had been struck by a vehicle while they were walking on the sidewalk in the area of White Oaks Restaurant.  Both of the victims had serious injuries.  The vehicle that struck them was described as a black sedan that left the scene south bound on Cahoon.  While officers and the Westlake Fire Department attended to the 2 injured Westlake residents, one 25 years old and the other 21, additional Westlake officers observed a vehicle matching the description.  A black sedan was stopped in the area of Dover and Dominion.  After being questioned about damage found on her vehicle, the 24yo Cleveland resident purported that she had struck a deer on a previous night.  The female was detained while investigators collected evidence and towed the car. 

“The next day, detectives interviewed the driver and learned that not only had she struck the 3 victims on 4/4 and 4/7 in Westlake, she also admitted to hitting a male 56yo Westlake resident while he was walking with his dog in Bay Village on 4/1.  The female suspect is currently incarcerated in the Westlake jail while WPD and BVPD gather additional evidence and statements.  Felony charges are expected to be filed through Rocky River Municipal Court tomorrow, 4/10.  All of the dogs involved appear to be OK.”

Police will  add her charges tomorrow after the suspect is arraigned in Rocky River Municipal Court at 10AM.