The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
Great Horned Owl Rescue!
Westlake Police responded to a call about an owl stuck in a resident’s enclosed porch. The Juvenile Great Horned Owl was stuck but uninjured. When ACO Jim Wang relocated the owl to a nearby branch, the mom owl was heard hooting in appreciation!
Westlake Police Scam the Scammers
On 3/23/26 at approx. 11AM, a 78yo resident arrived at the WPD station to report being the victim of a scam. The woman relayed that sometime in August of 2025 she had been on her home computer when a red box popped up indicating that she had been “hacked.” The pop up provided a phone number for “Apple Security.” The victim called the number and was connected to someone claiming to be an FBI agent. The fake FBI agent began to walk the victim down an elaborate story of cyber attacks, international investigations and even the death of an undercover federal agent. Official sounding phone calls and mailed letters were used to make the victim believe that their identity was revealed during this investigation and they therefore were legally obligated to participate in the federal investigation. Due to the seriousness of the circumstances, the victim was also ordered, under penalty of law, to maintain complete confidentiality and was told to keep the secret from friends, family or other law enforcement. Eventually, the victim was ordered to withdraw large sums of cash from her accounts and buy gold coins and gold bars. She was promised that all would be held by the government and returned to her upon the completion of the investigation. The woman used the ruse story, provided by the scammers, of doing home remodeling to take cash out of her accounts. She bought the gold as instructed and, over 3 days at the end of 2025 and beginning of 2026, turned it all over to “agents” who showed up at her home in Westlake. In all she turned over almost $200,000 worth of gold to the fake agents. The victim was drawn out of the months long scam by an alert business owner at Carat Coin in North Olmsted. She had gone to the business to buy additional gold for the fake agents when the employees there were able to talk the woman into believing she was getting scammed.
Upon learning that our elderly resident had been victimized, WPD officers and detectives began to scam the scammers. They used the victim’s electronics to agree to another gold pick up. The detectives drew the fake federal agents out into the open by providing forged receipts and photos of realistic looking imitation gold. On 3/25/26 at about 11AM, the scammer couriers showed back up at the victim’s residence. They collected the fake gold and went about their day believing they had successfully victimized the Westlake resident again. This time Westlake PD cruisers, drones and detectives were watching. The suspect vehicle was stopped in the area of Crocker and Detroit. 2 males were taken into custody within 2 days of WPD learning of the crime. Charges for the 2 men arrested include felony counts of Theft by deception and complicity to commit theft.
The suspects are both male: 41yo from Danville, PA and 36yo from Gettysburg, PA
Congrats Ptl. Funari
Congrats to Ptl. Dennis Funari who has retired after 33 1/2 years of serving the citizens of Westlake. With Denny, K9 Cash will also retire with honor! Cash will be able to enjoy relaxing days living with the Funari family. Thank you for everything Denny and enjoy retirement! Well earned.
Welcome
WPD welcomes new officers to the team! Mayor Clough administered the oath to 2 new police officers today at City Hall. WPD is honored to welcome Ptl. Katelyn Bugara and Ptl. Justin Markovic. Kate comes to us with 6 years of experience while Justin will finish the Police Academy in a couple of months. Both are great people and will fit in well with WPD’s mission to Make Westlake Safer Today.
Open Door Checks OK
On 3/20/26 at approx. 2:30PM, a concerned and observant citizen called to report that they noticed that their neighbor’s overhead garage door had been open for the past week. A vehicle was seen inside the garage. Officer were dispatched to check out the suspicious situation while WPD dispatch attempted to call the homeowner. The officers checked the property to find all appeared OK. The homeowner was contacted and indicated they were out of town. The open garage door appeared to be an oversight. The officers were able to secure the property.
Felony OVI
On 3/21/26 at about 10AM, a WPD officer stopped a vehicle in the parking lot of the Sonesta Suites on Clemens for a license violation. The driver of the vehicle, a 46yo Elyria man, had a suspended license due to prior traffic violations without insurance. The man appeared intoxicated and solved his problem of not being able to remove his ID from his wallet by handing the officer his whole wallet. His admission to drinking alcohol 8 hours prior to the stop did not explain his slurred speech, bloodshot eyes or odor of an alcoholic beverage. The man refused field sobriety or breath testing. He was arrested for OVI and driving under suspension. He had 6 prior OVI convictions on his record dating back to 1999. His prior arrests made this violation a felony of the 3rd degree. The man was also cited with driving under suspension. The man was held in jail until 3/23/26 when he waived his preliminary hearing. The case was bound over to the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury and the man was released on a $25,000 cash/surety bond.
He Needed to “Floor It”
On 3/21/26 at approx. 8:30PM, officers on patrol observed a black BMW driving recklessly and aggressively on I90 W/B. The suspect vehicle passed the cruiser by weaving between lanes. It also sped up and passed other cars by weaving in and out of lanes quickly. The officers tried to stop the BMW in the area of Clague Rd but the sedan accelerated away while passing other cars in a continued aggressive manner. The suspect pulled away quickly and exited the highway at Columbia Rd. The pursuit was terminated within a minute by the officers due to the dangerous driving. The BMW was soon found by other WPD officers parked and occupied at McDonalds on Detroit by Columbia. Officers ordered the now cooperative occupants out of the car. The driver, a 25yo Cleveland man, admitted he made a mistake not stopping for the lights and sirens of the police. He said that he and his juvenile cousin were just out having a little bit of fun and that he has a BMW which made him feel like he needed to “floor it.” The adult was arrested while his BMW was towed from the scene. The man was charged with failure to comply and reckless operation. The 17yo cousin was not charged and was released to a family member.
Fugitive Male
On 3/22/26 at about 9:30AM, officers learned that a fugitive male was staying at the WestSpring Inn on Sperry. The 32yo Cleveland man was wanted in Cuyahoga County for felony level obstruction of police and by Middleburg Hts PD for unauthorized use of a vehicle. The man was located and detained in a room. He was arrested and transported to the Cuyahoga County Jail after being cleared by Metro Hospital due to complaints of heroin use. A vehicle associated with the suspect was located and found to be entered in police databases by Cleveland PD (CPD) due to being involved in a felony crime in their city. CPD responded to the motel and towed the vehicle. Three women in the room were evicted by the motel as they were not on the rental agreement.
Shady Character
On 3/24/26 at about 3PM, WPD received a call from the Sunglass Hut regarding a shoplifter. Officers searched the area for the suspect described as being a white man with sandy blond hair. He was further described as being about 5’ 3” tall and weighing around 120 pounds. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, gray pants and a stocking cap. He was not located. Investigation revealed that the man took a pair of RayBan sunglasses valued at approx. $275. Westlake PD asks for anyone with information on the identity of this suspect or information on any crime to call 440-871-3311 or email supervisors@westlakepolice.us. You may remain anonymous. This case is being investigated by Ptl. Bullins under case #26-05846.
‘Am I Going to Jail?’
On 3/26/26 at approx. 8PM, WPD received a report of a vehicle that struck a traffic signal box at the intersection of Porter Rd and Center Ridge Rd. The operator simply ran off the roadway and did not stop until he hit the utility box. The 38yo Sheffield Village man appeared intoxicated. He was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. When the officer spoke with the man, he immediately asked “am I going to jail?” He admitted he made a mistake by driving after drinking too much that evening. The driver was cited with OVI and failure to control. The Westlake service department assisted with the cleanup of the scene and will facilitate the major repairs needed to the traffic light control box.
Stop Sticks Stop Armed Suspects
On 3/28/26 at approx. 1AM, WPD learned of an attempted vehicle theft in Lorain County involving a yellow Dodge Charger with no license plate. WPD officers spotted the vehicle speeding on I90 E/B and attempted to stop the sports car. The driver did not pull over and chose to ignore the lights and sirens of the WPD pursuing cruiser. Rocky River officers were able to safely deploy stop sticks (tire deflation devices) in the area of Hilliard Rd. The Charger hit the stop sticks which deflated at least 1 tire of the sedan. The suspect vehicle continued on with sparks flying. It exited at West Bl where the car struck a center island at the end of the exit ramp. This finally disabled the vehicle. 4 people immediately fled on foot from the car while 1 stayed in the back seat. Westlake, Rocky River, Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Sheriff Dept officers converged in the area and soon located 2 males in the neighborhood. 3 loaded firearms were located in the car. One, a Glock 27 with an extended magazine, had been reported as being stolen to Cleveland PD. The yellow Charger had been reported as being stolen on 3/23/26 from Cleveland’s Third District. In addition, the group had numerous vehicle key fobs along with electronics to program vehicle key fobs. Reports indicate that the group had just been at a car dealership in Elyria where they broke a car window and attempted to steal a vehicle. A 21yo Cleveland man was reportedly driving the stolen car. He was charged with Felony Receiving Stolen Property for both the stolen gun and Dodge Charger, possessing criminal tools, improper handling of a firearm and failure to comply. Additional charges will be presented to the County Grand Jury. 3 juveniles, two 17yo and one 16yo, all with Cleveland addresses, were charged through Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court in connection with this incident.
Intoxicated Parent
On 3/30/26 at about 5PM, WPD received a call from a concerned employee of a Pre-School on Center Ridge. A parent had arrived at the business to pick up his young kids. It was obvious to employees that the man was intoxicated and was planning on driving the kids home. They described him as stumbling around and bumping into walls. The school refused to turn the children over to the man and he soon left in his vehicle. Officers quickly located the vehicle at his residence. The man, a 37yo Westlake resident, came outside and spoke to the officers. He appeared highly intoxicated and officers had to physically help him stand upright. He was taken into custody for OVI and child endangering. He refused a breath test at the jail. He had 1 prior OVI conviction in 2023. The mom of the children responded to the school to pick up the kids.
He Got His Z’s
On 4/5/26 at approx. 5AM, a man came to the WPD to report that his vehicle had been stolen. The victim’s Kia Seltos had been parked at the WestSpring Inn while he was staying there for the past couple of days. The man suspected that a woman, who he had met online and only knew for a couple of days, had taken the keys from the room and left with the car. This suspicion was strengthened by the fact that all her possessions were also gone from the Motel room. The victim only knew the woman as “Z.” Unfortunately, the man’s Taurus handgun had also been in the car when it was taken. Both the car and firearm were entered into police databases as being stolen. Officers tracked the vehicle to Detroit, MI and contacted authorities there. The car was located on a street in Michigan and Detroit PD arrested “Z,” who was still with the Kia. She told police there that she rented the vehicle from the man at the WestSpring Inn. The victim denied this. The woman was identified as a 20yo Cleveland resident. She was arrested by Detroit PD. Westlake Detectives also charged her with theft of the vehicle and handgun in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. The missing gun was still in the vehicle and was recovered. The victim was advised that he would have to collect his possessions in Detroit.
“Off His Meds”
On 4/8/26 at about 6AM, a woman on 911 reported that her boyfriend was screaming and yelling at the Red Roof Inn. She indicated that he was acting irrationally because he was “off his meds.” The caller had locked herself in the bathroom for fear of his behavior. The man was cooperative with the officers who arrived to investigate. The motel room was described as being in “disarray.” The smoke detector was pulled out of the wall, the mirror was damaged and other garbage was thrown about. The caller did not want to pursue any charges and it did not appear that there were any injuries to either of the persons. The man, a 19yo who indicated that he was homeless, was arrested and charged with criminal damaging.
Bubble Pop
On 4/9/26 WPD dispatch received an alert from the City of Westlake Confirm OK system. Formerly known as the “Are You Okay?” check in service, the automated computer system calls subscribed residents at a pre-determined time to check on their welfare. At about 6PM, dispatch was alerted that a resident did not answer their check in phone call. Dispatch attempted to call the 91yo resident but also received no answer. After calling her daughter and learning that the woman should be at home, officers were dispatched. They became more alarmed when there was no answer at her door. After speaking to the neighbors and seeing that her vehicle was in the garage, the officers used a garage code to gain access to the residence to check further. The woman was inside….completely fine. It turns out she was inside playing video games and missed the attempts to contact her. Officers reported that the thankful resident was playing a “Bubble pop” game and was trying to beat her record level.
**WPD reminds residents of this completely and voluntary service run through the Westlake Community Services and Police Departments. You can sign up for a daily call to yourself or a loved one – at a time of your choosing. If the call is not answered or the prompts to push a number on the phone are not followed, additional steps will be made to check on the subscriber’s welfare. This can and has save lives. Contact Outreach Coordinator Donna Feorene (dfeorene@cityofwestlake.org) at Westlake Community Services for more information or to sign up.**
Directing Traffic
On 4/10/26 at approx. 5:15AM, WPD received a complaint that a man in all dark clothing was in the middle of the intersection of Crocker and Center Ridge directing traffic and approaching cars. Officers arrived and observed that the man was in the roadway as described. The 26yo Cleveland man appeared intoxicated and was placed into custody. At first, he did not want to tell the officers who he was. After being identified, the investigators discovered he was also wanted by the Ohio Dept of Rehabilitation and Corrections for a parole violation. The suspect was charged with being disorderly while intoxicated and failure to identify. Both misdemeanors. He was taken to the local jail and when sober, was transported to the Cuyahoga County Jail.
Vehicle Stuck on Tracks
On April 7 at 1:22 am, BVPD was flagged down by a passerby advising there was a vehicle stuck on the railroad tracks on Bradley. BVPD responded and located the driver who was suspected to be under the influence. The driver submitted to standardized field tests and subsequently placed under arrest for OVI. The male was transported to BVPD jail to be booked and released on a personal bond. The 23-year-old Avon resident was charged with OVI, full time attention. He will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Home Burglary
On April 8 at 10:21 am, BVPD was dispatched to Lake/Kenmore for a residential alarm. Upon arriving, the home appeared secure; however, officers located a garage window open. An officer was able to make entry through the window. BVPD cleared the residence with no individuals located inside. BVPD was later contacted from the resident who stated they had video footage of an unknown individual in their home. BVPD reviewed the footage and determined this was a Burglary. BVPD returned to canvass the residence and surrounding area, where officers located an item of clothing believed to have been worn by the suspect near a vacant home. BVPD confirmed there was a male in the home who refused to exit. BVPD forced entry and arrested the male. The male was transported to BVPD jail. It was discovered short time after another resident reported their home was also entered and property stolen, property which was found on the male at the time of arrest. The 33-year-old Cleveland male was charged with two counts of Burglary, breaking and entering, and receiving stolen property. Through video arraignment via Rocky River Municipal Court, his case was bound over to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas and given a $20,000 cash surety bond. The male was later conveyed and turned over to Cuyahoga County Jail.
Scam Call
On March 16 at 3:52 pm, A resident on Lincolnshire Drive contacted BVPD after receiving a phone call from an individual claiming to be an Apple employee, who advised her of a purported purchase of $15,000. Officers spoke with the resident, confirmed that the call was a scam, and provided guidance on protective measures to prevent falling victim to future scam calls.
Property Damage
On March 16 at 6:30 pm, a resident on East Oakland Road contacted BVPD to report property damage. Officers responded and observed damage consistent with a BB gun projectile. A target was observed in a neighbor’s backyard. BVPD attempted to make contact with the neighboring party, but no one answered the door. The incident remains under investigation.
Meteorite Worries
On March 17, 2026 at 9:17 am, multiple calls to BVPD dispatch in connection to hearing a large explosion in the area (AKA St Paddy’s Day meteorite).
Panic Alarm
On March 18 at 1:43 am, BVPD received a silent panic alarm from a residence. Upon arrival, officers heard two individuals fighting inside the home. The male refused to exit the residence but was ultimately placed under arrest. The male was conveyed to BVPD to be booked and held. The male resident was charged and will be facing charges through Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
Sawdust Complaint
On March 18 at 6:30 pm, A resident on West Oakland Road contacted BVPD regarding an issue with a neighbor. The resident reported that a contractor was generating sawdust that was settling onto his vehicles. Officers responded and spoke with both parties regarding the complaint.
Checked OK
On March 18 at 8:40 pm, A resident on Osborn Road contacted BVPD to report that a neighbor’s garage door had been open for several hours, which was unusual for the residence. Officers responded and attempted to make contact with the homeowner. Contact was made, and everything checked okay. The open garage door was determined to be an oversight.
Suspicious Person
On March 18 at 11:00 pm, A resident in the area of Knickerbocker and Douglas contacted BVPD regarding a suspicious person observed on their doorbell camera. The resident reported that the unknown individual appeared to be looking for someone but had the wrong address. The resident requested extra patrol of the area.
Dog Complaint
On March 19 at 7:54 pm, A resident on Plymouth Road contacted BVPD regarding a neighbor’s dogs being on their property. Officers responded and spoke with the complainant, who reported an ongoing issue with the neighbor. Officers then made contact with the dog owners, who were advised of leash laws. They were also informed that any future violations could result in a citation.
Fire Alert
On March 20 at 5:25 am, BVPD and BVFD were dispatched to Pizza Hut in reference to a fire alarm sounding. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a delivery driver who stated that when he arrived to make a delivery and opened the door, he observed the smoke alarm sounding and detected an odor of something burning. BVFD responded to the scene and determined the cause to be an electrical issue. It was later discovered that the dishwasher’s circuit board had melted. Power to the appliance was shut off, resolving the issue.
Suspicious Incident
On March 20 at 9:52 am, a resident on Forestview Ct contacted BVPD over a suspicious incident. The resident reporting on 03/19/26 at 8am, an unknown grey Toyota had stopped in front of their residence and the male took photos of their house and then drove off. The resident was advised to contact BVPD at the time of the incident or as soon as possible when suspicious activity occurs.
Under the Influence
On March 21 at 1:43 am, BVPD contacted a traffic stop near Lake/Saddler Rd. Upon speaking with the driver, it was suspected they were under the influence. The driver was offered standardized field sobriety testing, and subsequently arrested for OVI. The driver was transported back to BVPD to be booked. The driver was offered a breath test, which yielded a BAC of 0.197%. The male was released to a sober adult. The 31-year-old Bay resident was charged with OVI, OVI BAC. He will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Missing Makeup
On March 23 at 2:55 pm, an employee of Walgreens contacted BVPD to report a theft. Officers responded and took a report from the employee. On 3/21/26 at 7:30 pm, a male entered the store and went directly to the makeup and skincare aisle, where he stole approximately $2,300 worth of products. The missing items were discovered after an inventory of the section and a review of security footage. List of items and security footage were turned over to BVPD. Police are investigating.
No Driver’s License
On March 24 at 1:04 pm, BVPD conducted a traffic stop on Clague/Sperry. Upon speaking with the juvenile driver, it was determined that they had never held a valid driver’s license. A probable cause search was conducted, which resulted in the discovery and confiscation of evidence. Two adult individuals were arrested and transported to BVPD jail. The juvenile was also transported to BVPD, where they were released to their guardian. Charges for the juvenile will be filed through Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. The 18- and 20-year-old will face charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Mysterious Pictures
On March 24 at 2:10 pm, a resident in the Plymouth/Manchester Lane area reported a white pickup truck driving around the neighborhood multiple times. The caller stated that an unknown male exited the vehicle and was taking pictures of the home. When the caller attempted to approach him, the male left the area. BVPD responded and spoke with the caller.
Parking Issue
On March 24 at 3:33 p.m., a resident in the Osborn/Dover Center area contacted BVPD regarding an ongoing parking issue. The complaint involved parents from St. Raphael School blocking the resident’s driveway during school release. The vehicle had left the area prior to BVPD’s arrival.
Domestic Incident
On March 24 at 5:17 pm, A resident walked to the BVPD to report a domestic incident that occurred at his home. The male was highly intoxicated, so BVPD contacted BVFD, and he was transported to a local hospital. Officers then responded to the residence and spoke with the other party involved in the complaint. Additional information was collected, and the report will be forwarded for a prosecutor’s review.
Two Vehicles
On March 25, 2026 at 12:37 am, BVPD checked on two vehicles parked at City Hall. The parties checked okay and were given a verbal warning for park hours.
Open Container
On March 25 at 3:22 am, BVPD Officers observed a traffic violation near Lake Road and Douglas Drive and conducted a traffic stop. The driver repeatedly attempted to exit the vehicle and was detained. A probable cause search was conducted concerning open container. The driver was cited for operating an unsafe vehicle and received a verbal warning for the open container. The vehicle was towed, and the driver departed the scene via Uber. The 26-year-old Cleveland resident will face charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
School Bus Violation
On March 25 at 12:25pm, BVPD was contacted by Bay Village School Transportation regarding a complaint of a vehicle passing a stopped school bus. Officers responded and completed a report. Based on video evidence, a juvenile was subsequently identified and issued a citation for passing a stopped school bus. The 16-year-old Bay Village resident will face charges through Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court.
Active Warrant
On March 25 at 8:40 pm, BVPD conducted a traffic stop in the area of Lake Road and Porter Creek Drive. The registered owner of the vehicle was found to have an active warrant through Lakewood Police Department. The warrant was confirmed to be active; however, Lakewood PD requested that the individual be advised and released. The driver was sent on her way.
Throwing Rocks from Overpass
On March 27 at 7:39 pm, BVPD was contacted by Avon Police requesting mutual aid regarding juveniles throwing rocks at passing vehicles in the area of Krebs Road and Naigle Road. Officers responded and located three juveniles, who fled on foot through backyards north/west direction. BVPD attempted to locate the individuals but was unsuccessful.
Hard to See
On March 27 at 8:21 pm, BVPD received a traffic complaint regarding a male wearing dark clothing who was skateboarding in the middle of the roadway. Officers responded to the area of Wolf Road and Porter Creek Drive and located the individual. He was advised of the complaint and instructed to continue traveling on the sidewalk.
Their Parents were Contacted
On March 28 at 1:25 am, BVPD Officers checked on two parked vehicles at the Cahoon Walking Path. Two individuals were located inside one of the vehicles. Their parents were contacted, and both individuals were issued a verbal warning regarding park hours and curfew.
Removed from Premises
On March 28 at 1:57 am, BVPD was requested to provide mutual aid to WLPD at the Holiday Inn for a possible domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, officers spoke with hotel staff, who reported receiving multiple calls regarding the room. Officers made contact with the involved parties, who stated the incident was only a verbal argument. Staff advised that the male party, who was not listed on the reservation, was to be removed from the premises. BVPD assisted the male in leaving the property.
