WEST SHORE BLUES: The Best of the Beats

Manhunt Suspends Westlake School Activities

2 Adults Arrested – 4 Firearms Recovered

On Saturday 9/27/25 at about 3:45AM, WPD officers on patrol spotted 3 males walking along the 27000 block of Hilliard Bl. Each were dressed in all black and had on gloves and masks concealing their faces. Knowing that neighboring cities recently had armed men prowling through citizens’ cars including an incident earlier that morning, the officers stopped to talk to the trio. 2 immediately ran away. 1 was compliant with the officers’ orders and was detained. The 19yo was armed with a handgun and had felony warrants for vehicle theft from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff Dept. WPD officers along with mutual aid from Lakewood, North Olmsted, Bay Village and Rocky River, utilized K9 teams, drones and eventually Westshore Enforcement Bureau SWAT to search the area for the remaining suspects at large. A nearby retirement community was put on a Lockout and Westlake School activities at the Dover Center campus were cancelled or postponed as officers searched nearby woods and residential streets. At about 7:15AM, a second suspect was located walking out of the bushes at Dover Center and Hilliard. The man was arrested after a brief foot chase. Believing that he had thrown items, a WPD K9 was used to search the area. K9 Timmy led the officers to a firearm with extended magazine and 2 nearby cell phones on Hilliard just west of Dover. During the search of the woods adjacent to Dover Intermediate School for the 3rd male, a backpack containing 2 additional loaded handguns was found. One of the guns had been reported as being stolen in Cleveland. It was learned by investigators that the 3rd suspect had been picked up by a ride share driver. Follow up is being conducted to identify that man. Recovered stolen property including bank cards, jewelry and driver’s licenses in victim’s names in addition to the stolen gun were recovered. Both arrested males were 19 years old and listed Cleveland addresses. Charges including Having Weapons while Under Disability and tampering with evidence have been filed. Westlake Detectives are following up with victims of thefts from Autos. If you believe your vehicle was unlawfully entered please contact WPD at 440.871-3311 so our officers can take a report.

Shoplifter Wanted

On 9/15/25 an employee of Market District called WPD to report a shoplifting that occurred 3 days prior. The suspect was described as being a white male in his mid to late 50’s, skinny build wearing tan pants, a black tee shirt and baseball type hat. He had been in the store at about 3:30PM on 9/12. He left without paying for almost $900 worth of items including bottles of pre-made margarita, Fireball whisky, Tide Pods and animal crackers. He fled the scene in a silver Chevy Malibu that was driven by another person. A few days later. the same man returned to Market District and stole additional items. He now was clean shaven and bald. Investigators are still attempting to identify him.

Distressed Children

On 9/16/25 at about 9AM, officers on patrol at the WestSpring Inn were approached by 2 crying children who indicated that they had locked themselves out of a hotel room. The 7 and 1 year olds were looking for help and relayed that their parents were not on site at that time. While the officers were trying to figure out what was happening with the kids, their mom pulled into the parking lot in a vehicle. She explained that she had to leave to pick up another of her children to get them to school. The children appeared well adjusted and otherwise cared for. The Westlake Law Dept is reviewing the case.

Felony Breaking & Entering

On 9/19/25 officers responded to the report of an alarm at the Ganley BMW dealership on Sperry Dr. While checking the premises, the officers located a door with the glass broken out on the east side of the building. Officers from North Olmsted and Bay Village assisted Westlake first responders in setting a perimeter around the business. Officers used drones then personnel to check inside the building to find that no person was inside. Surveillance video was collected to find that a heavy-set person was wandering around the parking lot between 2:30AM and 3AM. The person entered unlocked vehicles in the lot and used a long object they were carrying to break out the window of the building. Investigators did note that the person appeared to come from the direction of the nearby WestSpring Inn. The suspect returned the same direction after breaking into the business. The person on the video matched the description of a long time resident of the hotel. The female also had a history of being arrested multiple times by WPD for theft offenses involving past stolen vehicles, license plates and warrants. On 9/23/25, Detectives from WPD contacted the suspect in her room at the WestSpring Inn. The 54yo female, who lists the hotel as her residence, was confronted with video showing her wandering from the hotel to the dealership on the night of the incident. She eventually admitted to going out to attempt to steal. The woman was arrested and transported to the Westlake Jail. Her 3 dogs were also taken into protective custody and transported to the Westake Kennel. This was also not the 1st time the dogs had to be “arrested” for their own well being when their owner was in WPD custody. The human suspect was charged with felony Breaking and Entering. The K9’s were given treats for being cooperative.

Suspended License, Drugs

On 9/23/25 at approx. 1PM, officers stopped a vehicle on I90 W/B near Crocker for a license plate violation. The man driving the car had a suspended license and the vehicle had an expired temp tag that was not visible from the back of the car. In addition, he had warrants entered for his arrest, one of them a felony through Portage County. Investigation revealed the driver was in possession of a burned glass pipe and a small amount of crack cocaine. The vehicle was towed from the highway and the driver arrested and charged with felony possession, driving under suspension, possession of drug paraphernalia and expired plates.

Indecent Exposure

On 9/26/25 at about 11:30AM, officers were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 27000 block of Detroit Rd for an indecent exposure complaint. The female complainant reported that when she was leaving for work that morning, a man exited his apartment door completely nude. Another neighbor indicated that she had also witnessed this and added that the man had been “doing this for the last 2 weeks.” Witnesses were interviewed as was the suspect. The 52yo Westlake man was arrested and charged with indecent exposure.

Retirement Home Prowler

On 9/24/25 at approx. 2:15PM, officers responded to a Westlake retirement community for a reported suspicious person. A woman was seen prowling around the independent living building at the facility wearing medical “scrubs” type clothing apparently to mix in with staff. She entered several private residences and if she found residents at home, tried to cover her activities by saying that she was there to empty the garbage. Officers checked the facility for the described prowler but could not locate her. 2 victims found that cash was missing from drawers in their home. Officers began to investigate by gathering available surveillance and license plate reader data. On 10/2/25 employees called WPD again to report that the same suspect was on scene. Employees recognized her and confronted her. She immediately said that she was trying to find the bathroom then tried to flee the area in a black Chevy Impala. Officers stopped the described car on Hilliard near Salem. The 27yo Cleveland woman was the same person who was in the facility on 9/24. The woman, who was alone in the vehicle, claimed that she was driving around working for DoorDash and denied even being at the retirement community. She also gave the officers a fictitious name and social security number. Once the officers figured out her actual identity, they also found out she was driving under suspension. The vehicle was towed from the scene, and the thief was booked into the Westlake City Jail. The female was charged with burglary, misidentification and driving under suspension. Additional counts of burglary with elderly specifications will be presented to the county grand jury. Investigators from Westlake and neighboring cities are working to tie her to additional burglaries with similar circumstances.

Deer Jumps through Car Window

On 9/27/25 WPD responded to the report of a car crash on Center Ridge Rd involving a deer. The caller explained that the animal had actually jumped into the back window of the car and that her kids in the back seat were now covered in glass. Luckily no one in the vehicle was injured after the alarming incident. Officers took a report for the property damage while Westlake Fire Paramedics checked out the kids who were shaken up. The deer could not be interviewed as she fled the scene without being identified.

Prostitution Arrest

On 9/29/25 WPD officers monitoring online forums traditionally used for prostitution/human trafficking noticed an advertisement listing Westlake. A WPD officer initiated correspondence with the person in the ad. The woman was soon tracked to the WestSpring Inn on Sperry in Westlake and contact was made with the 3 occupants of a rented room there. Probable cause was developed to arrest a 32yo woman from Pflugerville, TX. She was charged with Engaging in Prostitution. 2 other people were sent on their way without charges.

Freed Cat

On 9/30/25 at about 11PM, a concerned citizen called WPD to report that a cat was stuck under the hood of her Toyota Camry. An officer was dispatched to assist. The cat was freed from the vehicle without injury.

Shoplifter Nabbed

Over the past month, Westlake PD has taken several reports for shoplifting incidents at Market District on Detroit Rd. Detectives linked these incidents together after noticing that although the people walking out of the store with stolen high end merchandise were different in some cases, the same vehicle and driver were transporting them to and from the store to commit the thefts. On 10/1/25, WPD received an alert from the city’s Flock License Plate readers that the same vehicle was back in the area of Detroit and Crocker. Officers arrived and discovered that the vehicle was parked in the lot of Market District with the driver laid back in the driver’s seat apparently to try to avoid detection. A man inside the store had accumulated over $550 worth of expensive food and merchandise including filet, crab, margarita and Monster brand drinks. He was apprehended as he made his way toward the exit door. Patrol officers boxed in the suspect vehicle to avoid any possibility of a pursuit and took the driver into custody. Seven shoplifting incidents were linked to the driver, a 40yo Maple Hts man. He was charged with felony theft. Reports document over $4000 worth of stolen goods associated with the driver. The man in the store, a 43yo Wadsworth resident, was charged with resisting arrest and attempted theft. Detectives are working to identify the others involved in the past shoplifting incidents.

E-Bike Confrontation

On September 14, 2025 at 11:43 am, a resident arrived on station upset that a juvenile on an E-bike was riding recklessly and almost ran over his child. The resident began to film the juvenile on the bike and called police. BVPD responded to the address the E-bike pulled into after the incident. Speaking with the homeowner, they advised their son’s friend was on the bike at the time of the incident and is crying and terrified due to the male filming and following him. The parent of the juvenile on the E-bike called upset their child was filmed. Parties were reminded of the laws of E-bike and the resident who filmed the juvenile deleted the video.

Dirtbikes Flee Police

On September 14, 2025 at 8:14 pm, a concerned resident contacted BVPD advising there were dirt bikes racing westbound on Wolf Rd near Vineland. BVPD responded to the area and located the subjects. A traffic stop was attempted on the dirt bikes, which then fled from BVPD. A pursuit was initiated but was later terminated due to traffic levels and pedestrian safety.

Drugs, Suspended License, Child Restraint

On September 14, 2025 at 9:51 pm, a traffic stop was conducted near Lake Road and Longbeach Pkwy. Upon speaking with the driver, it was discovered they were driving under suspension. A probable cause search conducted on the vehicle yielded drug paraphernalia. The 24-year-old Lorain resident was issued a citation for marked lanes, DUS, and child restraint. The passenger, a 22-year-old Cleveland resident, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Both the driver and occupant will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.

Domestic Violence

On September 15, 2025 at 10:10 am, a Kenilworth resident heard someone screaming to call 9-1-1. BVPD responded to the area and discovered the screaming was coming from an address on Parkside Dr. Police located and surrounded the house, but the occupants would not respond to police commands to exit the home. A Westlake PD drone was sent into the house to assess the situation and officers entered next, placing the male under arrest and locating the female victim. The male was conveying back to BVPD jail to be booked and housed overnight. The 49-year-old Bay Village resident was charged with domestic violence, unlawful restraint, and disrupting public services. He will be facing charges through both Rocky River Municipal Court and Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

Crashed E-Bike

On September 17, 2025 at 7:12 pm, a passerby advised there was a middle school age girl who crashed her E-bike near Cahoon/Lake. BVPD responded and located the 11-year-old female. Officers called for a squad to respond and contacted the juvenile’s parents. The juvenile was transported to a local hospital.

High Speed Chase

On September 18, 2025 at 7:35 pm, BVPD attempted a traffic stop near Wolf/Sherwood for a traffic violation. The vehicle refused to stop and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle headed out of the city on Dover Center into Westlake. Due to high speeds, the pursuit was called off as the suspect vehicle left the city. Westlake PD was notified of the vehicle entering their city. Westlake PD pursued briefly, and the suspect vehicle eventually crashed after causing a three-car accident in the area of Detroit and Canterbury. The driver and occupant both suffered injuries in the crash. Charges are pending for the male operator, a 42-year-old Cleveland resident who was found to have 20 open license suspensions and multiple active warrants.