WEST SHORE BLUES: The Best of the Beats

Missing Driver

On 10/20/25 at approx. 10:45PM, WPD received a call from staff at a group home in Westlake concerning some missing residents. A staff driver had left with 3 men longer than 4 hours prior. The staff was alarmed because they had not returned within 2 hours as was normal and in addition all 3 clients were severely disabled adults who were overdue for needed medications. They could not get ahold of the driver but through tracking applications saw that the vehicle was traveling in Avon Lake, Cleveland and Brooklyn, OH. While officers were taking a report for the missing endangered adults, the missing van hit Westlake FLOCK license plate readers on Columbia in Westlake. At about 11:40PM, a Westlake officer stopped it on Canterbury. Luckily, all 3 men were still in the vehicle with the driver. Officers escorted the van back to the group home to assure staff there could take care of the patients. When officers attempted to speak with the now found driver, a 48yo man who listed a Cleveland address, he appeared confused as to why everyone was concerned. He could not or would not explain where he had taken the disabled adults except to say that his mother had an emergency and his phone was dead. The man would not elaborate. The officers noted signs of intoxication and field tested the driver. He was arrested for OVI. At the Westlake Jail, the man refused a breath test therefore his license was placed under an immediate suspension. Additional charges of Patient Endangerment were filed against the driver. The Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities was also notified. No injuries to the patients were reported.

One Spare Short

On 10/21/25 at about 8PM, officers stopped to help out an apparently disabled car on Center Ridge in the area of Bradley. The driver and owner of the Buick told the officers that he was having trouble removing the spare tire out of the rear hatch of the SUV. The investigators let the man know that one spare tire wouldn’t be much help being that both of the passenger side tires were flat. The man said that he had no idea what he had struck causing the damage. There were signs of impairment noted. The 32yo Grafton resident was field tested and arrested for OVI. He was transported to the Westlake City Jail while the vehicle was impounded and towed from the scene. At the jail the man submitted to a breath test and was found to be 3 times the legal limit. He was cited with OVI and prohibited breath alcohol content and was released to a sober ride later in the evening. Reports note that he was cooperative throughout the encounter.

“Just Take Me to Jail”

On 10/23/25 at approx. 1:15AM, an officer noticed a vehicle on Dover Center at Detroit Rd because it was driving without headlights or taillights. The police officer noted that the Nissan struck the curb when it was pulled over. When the officer greeted the driver at the door window, the 27yo Lakewood man immediately said “Hey man, just take me to jail.” Not wanting to disappoint the driver’s wish, the officer asked if he had too much to drink to be operating a car. The driver answered in the affirmative. After stepping from the car and being asked if he would perform roadside field sobriety tests, the suspect declined, saying “Nah, I’m drunk!” The driver was arrested for OVI. He refused a breath test and was ultimately charged with OVI as well as driving without headlights.

Going to Jail, Pt 2

On 10/26/25 at about 7:15PM, officers responded to a report of a car off the roadway in the area of Canterbury Rd. and First St. Witnesses said that the male driver was OK but had struck a rock and was slurring his words. Officers arrived to find that the vehicle had driven over a curb and struck a large rock on the tree lawn. When asked what happened, the driver, a 36yo Lakewood man could not explain his driving and did not even seem to understand the question. As he was directed to a nearby sidewalk for field sobriety tests, the man lost his balance and had to be stabilized by the officers. Reports note that the man put his cell phone to his ear and told whomever was on the line that he was going to jail. The driver declined to perform field sobriety tests and was arrested for OVI. He was booked into the Westlake City Jail where he also refused a breath test. Reports note that he had 2 prior OVI convictions on his record.

Out at the Wheel

On 10/25/25 at about 2:30AM, a tow truck driver called WPD to report a suspicious condition. The driver had been dispatched to help a stranded motorist with a flat tire in the parking lot of Marc’s on Detroit Rd. He arrived to find that the driver of the vehicle was passed out inside and despite knocking on the windows of the vehicle for 15 minutes, he did not wake up. As officers arrived, the man did wake up and stepped from the pickup. He denied being passed out behind the wheel. Officers noted that the truck’s tire was completely shredded and looked like the driver had attempted to drive on it for quite awhile. He denied hitting anything but was unsteady on his feet and was not making complete sense in his explanations. The 40yo Sheffield Lake man was field tested and arrested for OVI. An inventory of the vehicle also revealed that he was also in possession of a 9mm handgun. The driver was charged with OVI and Having weapons while intoxicated.

Cocaine Congregation

On 10/27/25 at approx. 3:30AM, officers on patrol noticed people hanging out in a vehicle in the parking lot of the WestSpring Inn on Sperry Dr. The officers stopped to talk to the occupants who indicated that they were waiting for their friend and car owner who was “changing” inside a hotel room. The registered owner of the car, a 47yo Cleveland woman, was noted to have an entered arrest warrant out of Lakewood PD for narcotic equipment possession. The officers waited around until the identified woman came out of a hotel room. She was arrested for the warrant. Further investigation revealed that she was in possession of a glass crack pipe as well as a small amount of crack cocaine. In all, 4 crack pipes, various drug paraphernalia and almost 1 gram of crack were recovered. The owner of the car was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. She was later turned over to Lakewood PD. The 2 people in the car, a 41yo woman and a 44yo man, who both listed Cleveland addresses, were arrested for possession of crack and drug paraphernalia.

Mama Can’t Help this Guy

On 10/27/25 at about 11AM, Westlake PD officers responded to an apartment at Crocker Park to attempt to serve a felony warrant on a 28yo man who resided there. The warrant, through the State Highway Patrol, was for a prior vehicle pursuit. The man’s mother answered the door and was told that someone was using her son’s identity illegally. The suspect then came to the door and walked outside the apartment. The officers indicated to him that he was under arrest for the felony warrant and he reacted by running away through the halls and stairways of the apartment building. After a short foot pursuit, the man gave up and was taken into custody following a brief struggle. The man, 28yo Gerald Romel Fleming, was charged with resisting arrest and failure to comply with the Westlake officers’ lawful orders. He was later released to the State Troopers to answer to his vehicle pursuit charges with them.

That was a Close One

On 10/27/25 at about 6PM, a man came to WPD to report almost being the victim of a fraud. He received an unexpected email indicating that he had a warrant out for his arrest for failure to appear in court. The man was instructed that he had to pay $15,000 to Lorain City otherwise deputies would come to his house and arrest him. Of course, according to the scammers, due to the time of day, the only way to pay this refundable “bond” was to deposit the cash into a BitCoin ATM. He could then avoid jail time. Luckily, the man talked to others at the store where the crypto ATM was located before depositing cash. Officers advised him to ignore continuing calls and emails about the fake warrant.

Tripped Out

On 10/27/25 at approx. 6PM, WPD received a call from a citizen reporting that he was approached by a frantic man at the shopping center at Walter and Center Ridge Rds. The man had told our caller that he was being chased by “people.” The guy was last seen running into the convenient store at the corner. Officers located the described male who indicated that he had been chased by 2 people from a nearby home. Witnesses in the area relayed that the events as described by the man were not true. In speaking further with the subject, he admitted that he hadn’t been able to get much sleep due to ongoing drug abuse/use. He was transported to the hospital to be medically treated for his hallucinations.

Scum of the Earth Award Goes to….

On 10/28/25 at approx. 3:15PM, a citizen came to WPD to report being scammed out of $2200 via gift cards. The woman explained that she had received an unexpected email from someone who she thought was a pastor of her church. The email said that the Reverend was very busy but wanted to buy gift cards as a reward for staff members. He was also not available by phone call due to meetings. The victim was instructed to buy Macy’s gift cards and to provide the gift card info to the requestor via the provided email address. Wanting to help her pastor, the victim complied over 2 days. When the fake pastor asked for even more gift cards, the victim became suspicious and called the real pastor. She was advised of the scam.

Facing Charges

On October 13, 2025 at 12:21 am, a BVPD unit observed a traffic violation near Clague Road and Wolf Road. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle. Upon speaking with the driver, it was suspected they were under the influence. The driver submitted to standardized testing and was subsequently arrested for OVI. The driver was brought back to BVPD jail to be booked. The driver was given the option to submit to a breath test, which he refused. The 35-year-old Rocky River Resident was charged with OVI, U-Turn and driving in marked lanes. He will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.

Credit Card Justice

On October 14, 2025 at 12:22 pm, a resident reports he lost his wallet while riding his bicycle and someone had used his credit card at a shop in Bay Village. The resident then responded to BVPD to complete a report. Surveillance footage from Walgreens lead to the identification of the suspect in question using the stolen credit card. A warrant was issued and the male was arrested on 10/16/25. The 21-year-old Bay Village resident will be facing charges through Cuyahoga County Common Pleas.

Somewhere on Her Anatomy….

On October 17, 2025 at 5:25 pm, BVPD stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation near Lake Rd/ Forestview for a traffic violation. Police investigated and found the operator did not have a valid driver’s license and one of the passengers had an active warrant out of Parma PD. A Westlake K-9 officer responded to assist BVPD. Upon placing the female under arrest for the warrant she advised she had hidden drugs within her anatomy. The female was arrested and brought back to BVPD to be booked and held. The vehicle operator, a 47-year-old Cleveland resident, was charged with no valid driver’s license. He will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court. The female passenger, 37-year-old Cleveland resident, was charged with possession of drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She will be facing charges through Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

Fell for It

On October 18, 2025 at 5:30 pm hours a resident responded to BVPD to report she had fallen victim to a scam. The resident attempted to create a YouTube TV account, but was having issues when a pop-up came up with a help number. She called the number and then gave remote access to her computer. The resident then transferred a total of $1,250 dollars in gift cards to the scammers. Police are investigating.

Fraudulent Account

On October 19, 2025 at 3:44pm, a resident responded to BVPD to report an account had been opened in their name. The resident received a Verizon bill with four devices activated. The resident contacted Verizon who stated they couldn’t share any information, and to make a police report. Police are investigating.