WEST SHORE BLUES: THE BEST OF THE BEATS

Blame it on the Burritos

On 2/27/26 at about 5AM, Westlake Police responded to a report of a female screaming from inside a room at the WestSpring Inn on Sperry Dr. The female caller said that she knocked on the motel room door and was greeted by a man who told her to mind her own business. The woman was concerned for whoever was screaming. Officers arrived and made contact with a man and woman in the described room. The couple explained that they had been in an argument over their Taco Bell order but that the verbal disagreement had not escalated to a physical confrontation. The officers cleared the scene after speaking with all the persons involved.

Special Delivery

On 2/27/26 at approx. 11AM, WPD responded to the report of a vehicle that had crashed into the US Post office building on Center Ridge Rd. Officers arrived to find that a Porsche Macan had in fact driven over the sidewalk area in front of the building and continued to strike the brick pillars of the structure. The 83yo man who was driving was uninjured. Luckily there were no other persons involved inside or outside the vehicle. There was no structural damage to the building but the vehicle will need mechanical and body work.

Double Trouble

1 – On 2/27/26 at about 11:15PM, WPD received calls from Panini’s on Clague at Detroit regarding a male customer who was out of control. Employees reported that the man was screaming inside the bar, had charged at people and was getting physically aggressive. Officers found the 45yo Westlake man after he walked out of the establishment. He was cooperative with the police while they investigated what happened. Reports note that the man appeared intoxicated and admitted to being “cut off” by the bartender. Officers learned from witnesses that the suspect did get into several physical altercations inside the bar and had threated to kill employees. The man was charged with being disorderly while intoxicated and assault. He was also banned from Panini’s.

2 – On 2/28/26 at approx. 3:50PM, WPD received a complaint about packages being stolen from the common area of condominiums on King James Pkwy. A resident noted that an Amazon package she had ordered was missing. When the officers and management reviewed the surveillance video, they saw a man enter the area, throw packages around and leave with the victim’s delivery box. The man was known to WPD as he had been arrested the previous night at Panini’s. Conveniently he was still locked up for the assault. Additional charges for misdemeanor theft were added to his Rocky River Municipal Court Docket.

Scam in Progress

On 3/3/26 at about 2:15PM, officers were called to the convenience store at the corner of Dover Center and Center Ridge Rds for a scam in progress. The employee there recognized that a woman was preparing to deposit a large sum of cash into a Crypto Currency machine and was likely being scammed. Luckily, the victim listened to the clerk and did not feed the $18,000 in cash into the Crypto ATM as she had been instructed to do by the scammer. Officers spoke to the woman and advised her to block all communications with the criminals.

He Should Write a Book

On 3/4/26 at approx. 8PM, WPD received a call from a man who reported that his vehicle had become disabled on I90 E/B in the area of Crocker Rd. He told the dispatcher that he had been out “partying” with friends, had become intoxicated and was left high and dry after the friends fled the disabled vehicle. Officers responded to help the 32yo Lakewood man as requested. They immediately noticed that it appeared that no one else had been in the man’s car as the story was relayed. The man, who was the vehicle owner, said that his friend “Matt” had been driving but “freaked out” due to outstanding warrants and fearing police contact. The man said that he did not know “Matt’s” last name or even about how old he was. Other WPD officers searched the area and also could not find anyone wandering around. After noting signs of illicit drug use in the vehicle, the officers investigated further. White rocks and powder, suspected to be forms of cocaine, were located in the car. The original caller was field tested and arrested for his 3rd OVI in the last 10 years. He refused a breath test and was charged with possession of drugs in addition to the OVI.

Blame it on the Amazon Truck

On 2/8/26 at approx. 2:30PM, WPD received a 911 call reporting that a vehicle had struck a house on Sperrys Forge Trail. Officers arrived to find an Audi had run off the road and into a home. Luckily, there were no injuries to anyone inside or outside the vehicle. The 16yo driver indicated that he had to swerve to avoid an Amazon delivery vehicle that had cut him off. Video from the area was collected but investigation was inconclusive on the exact circumstances of the crash. Neither drugs nor alcohol appeared to be a factor. The home had significant damage.

Pills in His Pants

On 2/9/26 at approx. 3:15PM, an officer stopped a vehicle on Detroit Rd at Dover Center for an equipment violation. Neither the driver nor the passenger had a valid driver’s license. Investigation revealed a loaded handgun under the driver’s seat. The driver, a 30yo Cleveland man, was prohibited from possessing a gun due to prior felony convictions for drug possession and weapons offenses. The driver was arrested while the passenger was sent on her way. While being booked into jail, officers discovered that the man was also concealing a sizeable amount of narcotics in his underwear. Analysis showed that the man had cocaine, heroin and a total of 32 fentanyl pills concealed in his pants. The suspect was charged with felony charges such as possession of a firearm while under disability and possession of drugs as well as driving while under a license suspension.

Security Call

On 2/24/26 at about noon, WPD received a call from a neighbor on Danielle Dr reporting that a residence on the street had a door that was standing “wide open.” It was also suspicious that dogs were running in and out of the house. Officers checked on the home and found that nothing appeared disturbed inside. They captured the dogs and made sure they were safely inside before resecuring the home.

Felony Warrant

On 2/24/26 at approx. 7PM, officers stopped a vehicle on I90 at Clague for violations. One of the occupants, a 49yo Cleveland man, had a felony warrant out of Cuyahoga County for obstructing police as well as misdemeanor warrants from Strongsville and Parma for past traffic violations. The man was arrested and transported to the Cuyahoga County Jail to answer to the charges.

Real Life Bumper Car

On 2/25/26 at approx. 12:30AM, a concerned motorist called WPD to report a Toyota pickup truck that had driven off of Detroit Rd by Clubside Dr. The truck ran over a mailbox, fire hydrant and several lawns before reentering the roadway and continuing W/B on Detroit. It did not make it far as the disabled truck was found abandoned at Fresno Dr. As officers began to investigate the crash, another WPD officer located a man stumbling on the sidewalk in the area of Detroit and Columbia Rds. Reports note that the 46yo LaGrange, OH man almost fell over when simply walking. The man was the owner of the truck but could not explain how the vehicle ended up abandoned in the middle of the street after a crash. The man appeared intoxicated and refused to submit to field sobriety tests. He was arrested for OVI and leaving the scene of an accident. The driver also refused to submit to a breath test so his license was immediately placed under a suspension.

Charging Dogs

On February 15, 2026 at 5:46 pm, a resident contacted BVPD advising two dogs had charged him and his child near the high school, the homeowner retrieved the two dogs, but would like officers to check the area. BVPD spoke with homeowner who advised the home was being shown by their realtor and the gate was left open accidentally.

Getaway Car

On February 16, 2026 at 9:41 am, Avon Lake contacted BVPD advising they were in a vehicle pursuit of a black Mazda which was last seen entering into Bay Village on Lake Rd. Avon Lake PD advised they terminated due to excessive speeds. BVPD units advised they observed the same vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound on Lake Rd/Porter Creek, passing vehicles on the left. Officers attempted a traffic stop; however, the vehicle continued to flee from police. The pursuit was terminated, and Westlake Police Department was notified that the vehicle was entering their jurisdiction southbound on Columbia.

They Still Have a Landline

On February 16, 2026 at 9:41 pm, BVPD received a 911 call from a home on Lincolnshire. 911 operator could only hear static with no response to questions. 911 operator attempted to call the number but received a busy tone. BVPD responded to the residence to check on the welfare of the occupants. Officers made contact with the residents, who were found to be okay and reported ongoing issues with their landline.

Active Warrant

On February 19, 2026 at 6:28 pm, BVPD conducted a traffic stop near Lake/Clague. The listed owner was showing an active warrant through Avon Lake PD. The driver was detained while the warrant was confirmed. BVPD transported and turned the driver over to Avon Lake PD.

Healthcare Worker Felony

On February 19, 2026, the Bay Village Police Department arrested a female 46-year-old home healthcare worker on multiple felony charges related to identity fraud and forgery. The disabled victim, a 73-year-old Bay Village resident was under her care in a local group home at the time of the offenses. The investigation, which began in September 2025, revealed that the suspect used the victim’s personal identification to fraudulently purchase a vehicle. Her case has been bound over to the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. The investigation remains ongoing.

Spring in the Air

On February 20, 2026 at 1:07 pm, resident reporting roofer’s music being too loud. BVPD responded and located the home in question on Breezewood. No loud music could be heard over the power tools being used to complete the roofing job.

Warrant Confirmed

On February 20, 2026 at 8:44pm, BVPD conducted a traffic stop near Cahoon/Knickerbocker. The listed owner was showing an active warrant through North Ridgeville PD. The driver was detained while the warrant was confirmed. The driver was transported and turned over to North Ridgeville PD.

Breath Test Refused

On February 26, 2026 at 1:40 am, BVPD observed a traffic violation near Wolf/Bracken Way. Upon speaking with the driver, it was suspected they were under the influence. The driver submitted to standardized field tests and subsequently arrested for OVI. The driver was transported to BVPD jail to be booked. The driver was offered a breath test and refused. The 38-year-old Bay Village resident was charged with OVI (multiple convictions), OVI refusal, lanes of travel, and operation without reasonable control. He will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.

Ice Cream Cake Exchange

On February 26, 2026 at 1:54 pm, an employee at Dairy Queen contacted BVPD regarding a theft that had occurred approximately 10 minutes prior to the call. Upon arrival and investigation, it was determined a customer had previously purchased an ice cream cake but was dissatisfied with the quality of the product. The customer returned to the store and selected another cake from the freezer, leaving the originally purchased cake behind. The customer returned to the store, and the parties spoke about the situation. The matter was resolved between the customer and store staff, and the dispute regarding the cake was settled.

He Paid Too Soon

On February 26, 2026 at 6:00pm, A male responded to BVPD to file a complaint. The male stated he had issued a check to a local business for work to be completed. He advised that it had been over a month since the payment was made and he had not had any contact with the company. The male was advised of the appropriate way to file a report due to living outside of the jurisdiction.

Private Investigation

On February 26, 2026 at 8:30 pm, BVPD was dispatched to a traffic complaint near Cahoon park. The caller reported that a white van with several occupants had been following them from Huntington Beach. Officers responded to the area and located the vehicle at Play in Bay. Upon making contact with the occupants, officers spoke with three juvenile females inside the vehicle. The juveniles stated they had observed two adults meeting at Huntington Beach, and one adult exited their vehicle and entered the other vehicle. Believing the activity to be suspicious, the juveniles decided to follow the vehicle in an attempt to “investigate”. Parents of the juveniles were contacted regarding the incident. They were advised of the situation and counseled that, if they observe suspicious activity in the future, they should contact law enforcement rather than attempting to follow the individuals themselves.

No Driver’s License

On February 27, 2026 at 9:48 am, BVPD observed a traffic violation near Lake/Douglas Dr. The listed owner showing no driver’s license. The driver was issued a citation for no operator’s license. The passenger was valid and took over operating the vehicle. The female will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.