WEST SHORE BLUES: The Best of the Beats

Terror at Holiday Inn Express

On 5/15/22 at approx. 8:30 p.m., Westlake Police responded to the Holiday Inn Express after receiving a call from the clerk at the hotel.

The complainant reported a male was refusing to leave the hotel after his stolen credit card was declined.

The officers made contact with the man who was still in the lobby. The 38yo man told the officers that he had a weapon then threatened them by repeatedly pointing his hand, enclosed and completely concealed in a draw string bag, at many of the men and women who were trying to do their jobs.

Despite the non-compliance and threats from the perpetrator, our officers peacefully brought the man into custody after he finally removed his hand from the bag. It turned out there was no gun. The suspect’s behavior could easily have led to an officer involved shooting.

This is just an example of situations Westlake Police officers are tasked to handle each and every day. Their training, equipment and professionalism are unparalleled. This incident could have ended very differently. This suspect was charged with felony receiving stolen property, aggravated menacing and inducing panic. He had an entered felony warrant from Portage County for a weapons offense as well as a misdemeanor warrant from Richmond Hts for trespass. He was eventually transported to the Cuyahoga County Jail.

Request for ID!

This man has been unlawfully entering the residents’ club house at an apartment complex in Westlake to abuse the facilities. He has caused damage to the building and WPD is trying to identify him. The female pictured has been seen with him. If you know either of these people please contact the WPD at 440-871-3311. It is not right that the complex has to continually clean up broken glass, cigarette and marijuana remnants and pay for broken doors. Thank you for your help.

LYFT Emergency

On 5/15/22 at approx. 2:45PM officers responded to Market St on a report from LYFT that one of their drivers pressed the emergency alert button. Officers arrived to find the described ride-share vehicle. The female driver indicated that she had driven a fare to Crocker Park but did not know where to drop him off. The man was passed out in the vehicle and would not respond to her. Officers woke the 37yo Parma resident who repeatedly used vulgarities toward the officers. They were unable to figure out where the man needed to be or to identify anyone who could take responsibility for him. The fare was placed under arrest for Disorderly Conduct while Intoxicated. He was transported to the Westlake Jail to await a sober friend.

Scammed

On 5/16/22 at about 2:30PM a citizen responded to the WPD station to report being the victim of a fraud. He had received a pop up on his computer from “Microsoft” advising that his account had been hacked. The victim called the phone number provided on the pop up and was put in touch with others who supposedly would assist with getting the problem cleared up. The scammers talked the Westlake resident into buying $2000 worth of gift cards and reading the serial numbers to the fraudsters.

Wrong Way on I-90!!

On 5/18/22 at approx. 9PM WPD officers responded to several 911 calls reporting a wrong way driver on I90. By the time officers caught up with the suspect vehicle, it had turned itself around. The vehicle, driving on a flat tire and with apparent damage from striking the barrier wall, was stopped in the area of I90 and Clague. The security guard driving admitted to being the errant driver and explained it by saying that he had fallen asleep. The 24yo Cleveland resident also admitted to having a loaded weapon in the glove compartment. The driver was field tested but not determined to be impaired. He was under a license suspension. The driver was cited with Driving Under Suspension and lane violations. The gun was confiscated and charges of having Weapons Under Disability and Improper Handling of a Firearm will be presented to the county Grand Jury.

Shoplifter

On 5/19/22 a representative of Market District arrived at WPD to report a shoplifting. A male and female had entered the store on 5/13/22 and took several hundred dollars of liquor without paying. Their vehicle was captured on surveillance and investigators are following up with license plates photographed. The grocery store indicated that they would prosecute for the theft.

Car v. Mailboxes

On 5/9/22 at about 12:45PM officers responded to the area of Regency Pl and Regency Circle for a crash involving 1 vehicle. A Buick SUV had struck 2 mailboxes as well as a light pole on the street. One mailbox was a brick structure that was destroyed. The driver, a 67yo Westlake resident, appeared to be impaired. He was field tested and arrested for OVI. Luckily he did not claim any injuries from the collision. At the WPD jail, the driver refused a breath test. His license was immediately suspended and he was charged with OVI and failure to control. He was later released to a sober relative.

Crash While Impaired (with Minor)

On 5/7/22 at approx. 7:30PM officers responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash at the top of the Clague Rd exit ramp from I-90 W/B. The caller reported that a female operator appeared to be “out of it.” Thankfully none of the people in the 2 vehicle accident claimed any injuries. The female driver of the car that struck the other from behind, a 40yo Madison, OH resident, gave the investigating officer several reasons for the crash including that the sun was in her eyes. The driver appeared intoxicated and was field tested. She was arrested for causing the crash while impaired. It was also noted that she had been driving her 11yo daughter when the drunken crash occurred. The daughter was safely transported by the officers to the station to await a ride from a family member. The mom was taken to jail where she tested over 2 times the legal limit of alcohol on her breath. The Madison female was charged with OVI, child endangering and failure to maintain assured clear distance from the vehicle ahead.

Complicated Scam

On 5/9/22 at approx. 2:30PM a man from New Franklin, OH called WPD to report that he was a victim of a theft. The complainant had bought a pool table from a seller on the west side of Cleveland through Facebook Marketplace. He then found a listing for “Pool Table Movers” on Facebook Marketplace and contacted a male to make arrangements to have the table picked up. The mover advertised himself as being based in Westlake and required an electronic payment of $600 to agree to transport the pool table. The mover did pick up the table from the seller but once the day of delivery to the complainant came and went, the victim realized something was wrong. The mover would not respond to inquiries and soon the victim saw the exact same table advertised on Facebook Marketplace for local pick up in Westlake. Theft/Fraud reports were made in New Franklin and Westlake. Investigation revealed the correct identity of the fake mover who was indeed a Westlake resident. Warrants for felony theft were obtained and officers responded to the 34yo’s residence. The suspect claimed everything was a “misunderstanding.” The pool table was recovered and the fraudster arrested. The table was later picked up by its rightful owner.

Shoplifter Arrest

On 5/10/22 at approx. 12:45PM WPD officers responded to a report of a shoplifting at Fresh Thyme Market on Detroit Rd. About 40 minutes earlier, a customer had walked out of the store with about $400 worth of high dollar meat products. He did not pay for the food before fleeing in a dark colored two door vehicle with a dark soft top roof. The suspect was described as being a white male who looked to be in his mid 50’s or older. He was balding with thin gray hair and was wearing a heavy blue jacket, dark shorts and white New Balance shoes. The photos and information were placed on social media and a lead was developed from a tip. The suspect was identified as a 51yo North Olmsted man who was arrested on 5/12/22 with the help of North Olmsted PD. He was transported to the Cuyahoga County Justice center to answer to his Felony Drug warrant through the sheriff’s office. He will be charged with misdemeanor theft for the shoplifting case.