The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
PIT Maneuver, K9 Used to Stop Runaway Driver
On 9/4/26 at approx. 10:15PM, WPD officers heard over the police radio that Bay Village Officers were in pursuit of a black Chevy Malibu. WPD monitored as the pursuit entered Westlake on Dover Center S/B. WPD officers blocked off intersections and assisted in the pursuit as the suspect continued to flee onto W/B Center Ridge, N/B Schwartz and W/B Hilliard. After passing Bradley Rd, a trained Westlake Officer took an opportunity to end the chase by utilizing a PIT (Pursuit Intervention Technique) maneuver. The PIT was successful. The suspect vehicle was spun out and blocked in by Westlake and Bay Village cruisers. The suspect, later identified as a 51yo Parma man, refused to get out of the vehicle. Officers attempted to negotiate with the contained driver as he texted and talked on the phone while smoking cigarettes and suspected crack cocaine out of a straight glass pipe. Officers used less than lethal rounds to break out the rear windows of the suspect vehicle to introduce pepper ball into the passenger compartment. The man seemed unaffected by the irritant as he continued to smoke drugs through the ordeal. After about an hour of warnings and attempted negotiation, a WPD K9 was deployed into the passenger compartment. The suspect kicked at the police dog. Additional officers used the opportunity to break out the driver’s door glass and pull the man out of the car. The suspect was tased after he would not release the steering wheel. The suspect was extracted and transported to the hospital for removal of the taser barbs and other minor injuries. No officers, including the K9 were injured during the incident. The suspect was turned over to Bay Village PD for processing. He was charged by WPD with felonies including failure to comply and tampering with evidence. Additionally, he was cited with misdemeanors including assaulting a police dog, resisting arrest and obstruction. Bay Village will have additional charges.
Four Prior OVIs
On 9/5/26 at about 3AM, stopped a vehicle on I90 E/B past Columbia for a moving violation. The operator appeared intoxicated and admitted she had been drinking earlier in the night. She was on her way home to Lakewood when stopped. The 65yo was field tested and arrested for OVI. Her vehicle was towed from the highway and she was booked into jail. The driver refused to submit to a breath test so her license was placed under an immediate suspension. She was charged with OVI, refusing a chemical test after a prior OVI conviction and weaving. The woman had 4 prior OVI convictions on her record.
Crack Cocaine, Scale and Burnt Pipe
On 9/5/26 at approx. 3:30PM, an officer stopped a vehicle leaving the WestSpring Inn on Sperry for an equipment violation. The investigators noted signs of drug use in the car and the driver had 2 active warrants from North Olmsted PD. A search of the vehicle yielded suspected crack cocaine, a scale and a straight glass pipe which was burnt. The 30yo driver from Cleveland was placed into custody. The man admitted he also had additional crack cocaine hidden on his person. He was charged with felony possession of crack cocaine.
Felony Warrant
On 9/7/26 at approx. 10PM, officers stopped a car on I90 W/B at the Lorain County Line after discovering that the owner of the vehicle had a felony warrant out of Cleveland PD for burglary. The owner was in fact driving. He listened to the officers orders and exited the vehicle without incident. He was detained. The 31yo Cleveland man was transported to the Cuyahoga County Jail to answer to his charges.
AR-15 Found in Car
On 9/9/26 at about 11:30PM, officers stopped a vehicle on I90 E/B around Columbia for a license violation. When the officers approached the vehicle, an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle was seen sitting on the passenger’s seat. The cooperative driver, an 18yo from Elyria, listened to the officers instructions to exit the vehicle. Investigation revealed that the man was not allowed to possess a gun due to prior convictions for aggravated riot and other felonies. The rifle and a magazine containing 22 rounds of ammunition were booked into evidence. The man was booked into jail and charged with felony counts of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle and having weapons while under a disability. He was also cited for driving without a driver’s license.
Road Rage
On 9/10/26 at about 5:40PM, WPD received a 911 call from a woman reporting that a man riding a motorcycle had pulled up next to her at a red light, yelled and swore at her through her closed window and punched her door mirror before fleeing on Crocker Rd. An independent witness also called in to corroborate the victim’s report. Both witnesses indicated that the suspect had been riding with another bike and both motorcycles were weaving in and out of traffic before the traffic altercation. Officers located the described motorcycles in the area of Main and Market Sts. The riders did stop for the officers. The described suspect said that a vehicle had “nearly killed his girlfriend” as they were riding on Crocker Rd. He denied being in any altercation on the roadway. Officers photographed damage to the victim’s vehicle mirror. The suspect, a 24yo man from Olmsted Falls, was arrested for criminal damaging.
Car in Bushes
On 9/13/26 at approx. 3:15AM, WPD received a call from St. Ladislas on Bassett Rd indicating that a vehicle had driven off the roadway and into the bushes of the parish. Officers arrived to find the male driver attempted to free the vehicle from the muddy grass. The 20yo driver from Fairview Park indicated that he had not seen the curve in the roadway. The man looked intoxicated. The underage driver admitted to drinking “just a little bit…” The man declined to participate in field sobriety tests. He was arrested for OVI. Investigation also revealed that he was in possession of marijuana and nicotine vapes. He was also not old enough to have these items. To top it off, a fraudulent PA driver’s license was found in his possession. The man was cited with OVI and possession of marijuana after he refused a breath test. He was later released to a sober person.
Unlikely Story
On 9/13/26 at about 1PM, WPD received a call from a concerned motorist reporting that a white SUV was swerving on I90 before stopping in the lane of travel on the Columbia Rd exit ramp. The vehicle almost struck several other cars while exiting the highway. The caller indicated it pulled into the lot of a nearby medical facility. Officers found the vehicle in the lot. The man driving said that he was there for a medical appointment about his back. Reports note that it was Sunday and there were absolutely no other vehicles at the closed facility. The investigators noticed that there was a hypodermic needle in the center console of the car and on the man’s lap. Investigation revealed that he was also in possession of a scale, numerous cut straws with residue inside, needles that were still loaded with liquid and powder contained in various containers. The man was arrested and charged with felony possession of drugs, abusing harmful intoxicants and possession of drug abuse instruments.
Aggressive Behavior
On 9/15/26 at about 9:30AM, WPD received a call from a woman who had been out for a walk in the area of Cedarwood Dr. A man, described as being in his 30’s with straggly hair and a backpack, was seen in the same area. The victim reported that as she passed the guy on the sidewalk, he began to yell comments at her. She started to walk away from him more quickly and the man yelled that he was going to “skin you alive!” The woman ran away and warned others in the area of the suspicious activity. Officers quickly located the man walking through a nearby parking lot. They recognized him as a 35yo who claimed he was homeless but who last had an address in Cleveland. He had been arrested by the Westlake Police Department previously for aggravated menacing for telling someone that he would “torture the F*** out of you…and your family…” He had been contacted by officers just the day prior for making inappropriate comments to a woman exercising in a park on Hilliard Bl in Westlake. The suspect had an outstanding warrant out of Pennsylvania for trespassing there. He also already had several protection orders against him protecting others from his behavior. The man was arrested and transported to jail where he was charged with Aggravated Menacing along with possession of an open container as 2 open bottles of vodka were found in his property.
Domestic Disturbance
On September 13, 2026 at 8:50 pm, BVPD received a third-party call regarding a possible domestic disturbance. BVPD responded to the area of Russell Road and Upland Road and checked the residence provided by the caller. The residence was cleared, and the involved parties were not located at the address. Contact was subsequently made with the involved parties, and BVPD was made aware that the family member who initiated the original call was experiencing cognitive decline.
Hit-Skip Accident Near Huntington
On September 14, 2026 at 8:00 am, BVPD was contacted by a driver who reported being involved in an accident at Lake Road/ Porter Creek. The driver stated the other vehicle left the scene after the accident. The reporting driver advised they would pull into the Huntington Beach parking lot. BVPD responded to the parking lot and obtained information for an OH-1 hit-skip report. The driver and witnesses were able to provide a description of the male driver, the make and color of the suspect vehicle, and the first few letters of the vehicle’s license plate. A search through Flock Safety identified a possible suspect vehicle. The reporting driver confirmed it was the vehicle involved in the accident and that the male associated with the vehicle was the driver who left the scene. BVPD responded to a Bay Village address to speak with the resident. The vehicle was located at the residence and had damage matching the reported accident, including a transfer of white paint. The driver denied being involved in an accident but admitted to being at the location of the accident. The driver was issued a citation for stopping after accident and ACDA. He will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Suspicious Vehicle
On September 14, 2026 at 12:29 pm, BVPD received a call from a resident on Maple reporting a suspicious vehicle parked on the street. BVPD responded and located the vehicle in question, which was parked and unoccupied. The vehicle was legally parked and was determined to belong to a homeowner on Maple.
Driving Under Suspension
On September 14, 2026 at 3:25 pm, BVPD received a call regarding a possible intoxicated driver traveling eastbound on Lake Road from Dover Center Road. BVPD located the caller and the vehicle in question and conducted a traffic stop. Upon speaking with the driver, no signs of impairment were observed. The female driver stated she had been using her cell phone to enter an address. Upon identifying the driver, BVPD learned that her driver’s license was suspended. The driver was issued a citation for driving under suspension. She will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
What was that Boom?
On September 14, 2026 at 4:51 pm, BVPD received a call from a resident in the area of Electric and Vineland regarding a loud boom and smoke coming from a backyard. Upon arrival, multiple residents were outside and expressed concern regarding the loud noise. BVPD spoke with the homeowner, who admitted to discharging an M-80-type firework in his backyard. The homeowner was subsequently issued a citation for the unlawful discharge of fireworks. He will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Scammed
On September 18, 2026 at 4:00 pm, BVPD received a request for a welfare check on a male at an address in the 26000 block of Lake Road. The caller reported that her boyfriend had health problems and was not answering her phone calls. BVPD responded to the address and spoke with the residents, who advised that the male had never lived at the address. BVPD dispatch subsequently contacted the caller and learned that she had been the victim of a scam. The caller was advised to contact her local police department to report the incident.
Bicycle Theft
On September 18, 2026 at 4:46 pm, BVPD was dispatched to 328 Bassett for a report of a theft. The resident reported that her juvenile daughter and her daughter’s friend entered the establishment and remained inside for approximately one hour. When the girls were preparing to leave, the juvenile realized her bicycle had been stolen. Security footage was obtained from the establishment, which confirmed the bicycle had been stolen. Police are investigating.
Disabled Vehicle
On September 19, 2026 at 5:00 am, BVPD received a call regarding a disabled vehicle near Lake Road and Columbia Road. BVPD responded to the area and located the vehicle and its driver. Upon speaking with the driver, officers suspected the driver was under the influence. The driver had struck the traffic island at Lake Road and Columbia Road, disabling the vehicle. The driver refused to submit to standardized field sobriety testing and was subsequently placed under arrest. The driver was transported to the BVPD jail for booking. The driver was given an opportunity to submit to a breath test but refused. The driver was later released to a sober adult. The driver was charged with OVI and failure to control. He will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
Driving Under Suspension
On September 19, 2026 at 9:40 am, BVPD observed a vehicle whose listed owner had an active OVI-related driver’s license suspension. BVPD conducted a traffic stop on Clague Road near the overpass. The driver was issued a citation for driving under an ALS suspension. The vehicle was subsequently towed from the scene. The driver was provided a courtesy ride to an establishment in Westlake. He will be facing charges through Rocky River Municipal Court.
