WEST SHORE BLUES: The Best of the Beats

Gunman Jumps Counter at Dollar Store

A terrifying armed robbery attempt took place at the Dollar Store on Clague Road in North Olmsted when a gunman jumped the checkout counter, aimed a handgun at the clerk and threatened to shoot her in the face unless she handed over cash register contents.

North Olmsted Police responded to the store at 1850 hours on Feb. 5. The clerk told police that the gunman jumped onto the checkout counter and kept stating, “Give me the money, give me the money,”

While holding the weapon near her head, he reportedly stated, “If you don’t hurry up, I will shoot you in the face.”

The clerk was unable to open the register. A co-worker in the back room heard the screaming and ran out but was also unable to open the register.

The male gunman and an accomplice both fled the store. The accomplice, a suspected lookout, was heard to say, “We gotta go!” Both men were dressed in black with bandanas. They did not steal anything.

Police conducted an extensive search of the area and have interviewed witnesses. Further video evidence is being analyzed.

One for the Books! $1000 Overdue Library Balance Brings Avon Lake Police Call

A Fairview Park patron of the Avon Lake Library rang up a balance of $1000 in overdue books and materials he check out last summer but failed to return. So an Avon Lake Public Library employee contacted Avon Lake Police to report the neglected $1000 -plus of books and media.

The library employee stated they wished to pursue theft charges if the items were not returned. The responding officer made contact with the patron, who returned the items and paid his overdue fines. The library requested no further action at this time.

Bay Man Takes Fire Hydrant Home after Crash

A Bay Village man who struck a bump in the road last week actually took a fire hydrant home that was lodged under his car.

The incident took place on Feb. 9 at 1823 hours. Bay Police were dispatched to Nantucket Row on the report of a car striking a fire hydrant and leaving the scene.

Officers located a license plate and responded to the registered owner’s house.

The 35-year old owner was located in the garage. He admitted to striking the hydrant, and actually had the hydrant in his garage because it had become lodged under his vehicle because of the crash.

Officers suspected the driver had been drinking. Field sobriety tests were administered, and as a result, the owner was arrested for OVI. The Bay Village resident will face charges at RRMC.

Shots Fired in Westlake Road Rage

Westlake Police have made an arrest in a road rage incident that took place last month

Police report that on Wednesday 1/31/18 at approx. 9:30 pm The Westlake Police Department received a 911 call about a road rage incident on I-90 heading westbound. A concerned caller reported that the driver of a Dodge Neon was “brake checking” and swerving at other cars on the highway. The caller then witnessed an occupant of the Neon fire several gun shots at another vehicle. The 2 involved vehicles separated but were later tracked down by officers. No one was injured in the shooting but the victim vehicle had several bullet holes. Evidence was recovered from both the highway and victim vehicle. The driver of the Dodge Neon, 22yo Raylon Larobb Etheridge from Lyndhurst, was arrested without further incident and the loaded handgun was recovered. Detectives are still investigating the circumstances around the shooting but Etheridge was charged with 3 felonies: Having Weapons Under Disability, Felonious Assault, and Improper Discharge of a Firearm.

Hawk Rescued After Store Collision

On Feb. 13, a department store on Detroit Rd reported that a Hawk was stuck inside a façade in the front of their store. The Westlake Animal Control Officer Jim Wang responded, and with the help of the Westlake Service Department, rescued the stranded bird, which was malnourished from being stuck in the store. The Cooper’s hawk was transported safely to the Lake Erie Nature Center for rehabilitation.

IRS Scam Call Costs Westlaker $1700

A Westlake resident reported that he had received a call from an unknown male on Feb. 15 purporting to be from the “IRS Criminal Division.” The male scared the complainant, saying that he owed back taxes and a warrant would be issued for his arrest if a partial payment was not made. The fraudster instructed the victim to buy WalMart gift cards and read them to him over the phone to make his tax payment. Unfortunately the victim did do this only to realize later that the scheme was a scam. The victim lost $1700. It appears to investigators that the phone numbers used to call the victim were not legitimate. ***NOTE that the IRS does not call people to collect on back taxes. Nor will they accept gift cards of any type for payment***

Scammers Target Bay Residents

Bad Title: On Feb. 15, at 2205 hrs, a Maple Heights resident called Bay Police to report he had purchased a vehicle from a resident in the 23000 block of Lake Rd. After the purchase, the buyer realized that the title he was given did not match the vehicle. Police are investigating.

ID Fraud: On Feb. 16 at 1104 hrs, a Bruce Road resident arrived at the Bay Village Police Department to report that he was the victim of identity fraud. The male had received a letter in the mail explaining that he owed almost $3000 dollars to a loan agency. The male fears that this incident stems from a nationwide data breach in which millions of people had personal information potentially exposed. The Bay Village Police Detective Bureau is investigating.

Craigslist Scam: On Feb. 16 at 1933 hrs, a Columbia Road resident called Bay Village Police to report he was being targeted in a scam. The homeowner had placed an advertisement on Craigslist selling a $75 vacuum. The homeowner was contacted by an interested couple, who then sent him a certified check for $1,250. The homeowner realized this was a scam and destroyed the check.

Residents are encouraged to call police when they receive these kind of scams, even if they are not out any money. Contacting police allows us to keep track of growing trends used by these criminals.

Arrests Made in Asian Owned Business Break-ins

Westlake Police report that between Feb. 5-9, four separate Asian owned businesses in the city were broken into during overnight hours. These consisted of nail studios as well as a restaurant. Investigators are analyzing evidence and similarities from all of the scenes.

On 2/11/18 at approx. 0400 Hrs., WPD detectives were alerted that North Ridgeville PD had stopped suspects in the rash of break-ins. Working with other agencies, the suspects were interviewed and later charged with all 4 break-ins that occurred in Westlake. The 2 males, one 29 year old from Seven Hills, and the other, an 18 year old from Parma, were charged with Breaking and Entering – Forced Entry.

Westlake Police Report Gym Parking Lot Break-ins

Westlake Police report a rash of vehicle break-ins in cars parked at Westlake workout facilities. The break-ins took place from Feb. 12-13. Four unoccupied vehicles were entered while parked in the lots of the Westlake workout locations. All of the vehicles had their windows smashed by an unknown object. The thieves were after credit cards, wallets, cell phones, and cash. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage to attempt to identify a suspect(s). ***Reminder: hide any valuables left unattended in your parked vehicle. Better yet, do not leave valuables in your car and make sure to lock the doors***

Too Drunk to Ride

On Sun., Feb. 11 at approx. 0300 Hrs., a Lyft driver called Westlake Police to report that his intoxicated fare not only could not remember where she lived, she could not articulate who she was. Officers responded and tried to help determine where she needed to go but were unsuccessful. The 30 year old female from Fairview Park was arrested and transported to the Westlake jail for her own safety. She was cited with Disorderly Conduct – Intox.

Suspicious Car Leads to Cocaine, Gun Arrest

On Feb. 14, an alert officer noticed a suspicious vehicle parked at a Westlake hotel on Clemens Rd. Upon contacting the 24 year old male from Elyria who was associated with the car, it was discovered that he was in possession of cocaine. The male ran off toward nearby businesses before officers could take him into custody. Working with Bay Village PD and a Westlake K9, a perimeter was set up and the male was soon located. Further investigation revealed that the male had been in possession of a 9mm semi-automatic handgun as well as drug paraphernalia. The handgun was reported as being stolen out of Garfield Hts in 2015. The male was preliminarily charged with Felony Trafficking in Drugs with further charges pending through the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury.

Prowler Prints Lead to Westlake Arrests: How to Catch a Snow Hare

Prowlers who left footprints in the snow were arrested in Westlake last week thanks to an alert snow plow driver.

The capture of the snow hares began at 4:25 in the morning of Feb 5. An alert snow plow driver noticed a male looking into a parked car in a residential driveway on Hunters Creek.

Luckily for the responding officers it had snowed recently and distinct footprints were located in the area. The prowler’s prints led up to numerous cars in the neighborhood.

The officers were able to track the prints which eventually led to a vehicle parked with 2 occupants. The footprint tread matched one of the male’s shoes and the investigation soon led to many items that had been taken from unlocked cars in the neighborhood.

The other male was arrested as he had been driving around assisting the actual thief. They were charged with theft and trespass. Much of the recovered property was returned to its rightful owners.