6/14/2012 - West Side Leader
     

WEST AKRON: Burglaries were reported at the following locations: the 1100 block of Diagonal Road between May 24 and June 7; the 1300 block of Nome Avenue between June 3 and 4; the 300 block of Merriman Road June 4; the 100 block of Morningside Drive June 4; the 1500 block of Shanabrook Drive between June 5 and 6; the 400 block of Zahn Drive between June 5 and 6; the 800 block of Bloomfield Avenue June 5; the 500 block of East Avenue June 6; the 1300 block of Weathervane Lane June 6; the 400 block of Woodland Avenue June 6; the 700 block of West Exchange Street between June 6 and 7; the 1200 block of Delia Avenue June 8; and the 1000 block of South Hawkins Avenue June 9.

On May 29, a 41-year-old Stadelman Avenue man was charged with criminal damage and vandalism for allegedly damaging a Purell dispenser, another machine and an exit sign at Akron General Medical Center in Downtown Akron.

Officers charged a 24-year-old Winton Avenue man June 5 with aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence and having weapons while under disability. The man allegedly forced his way into a residence on the 700 block of Upson Street in the Middlebury neighborhood while armed. Officers noted the man has a previous conviction for aggravated robbery.

A 54-year-old Madison Avenue man was charged with domestic violence June 6 for an alleged incident that occurred at his residence. The man has a prior conviction for domestic violence from 2001.

The same day, a 29-year-old Zahn Drive man was charged with domestic violence and domestic violence menacing. Officers noted the man has two prior convictions for domestic violence.

Officers charged a 25-year-old East Akron man with burglary June 6 after the man was allegedly observed by a witness taking property from an address on the 400 block of Woodland Avenue.

Around 11:30 p.m. June 8, three people were robbed at gunpoint on South Highland Avenue. The victims reported they were approached by three men wearing masks. According to the police report, two of the men had guns and they demanded the victims’ property. As the victims were giving the men their cell phones, money and a purse, one suspect struck a victim in the face with the butt of the gun. The three men reportedly fled with the victims’ property, and one victim was treated on the scene by paramedics for minor injuries. The suspects are three black males. The first two suspects are described as being 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds, both wearing black hooded sweatshirts and black masks. The third suspect is reported as being 6 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and white mask. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Akron Police Department at 330-375-2552.

A 28-year-old Redbush Road man was charged with burglary and violation of a protection order June 9. Officers were called to a residence on the 1000 block of South Hawkins Avenue and found the front door kicked open and fresh blood on the door. The victim was in the backyard and stated she has a protection order against the man, who is her husband. Police apprehended him at an address on the 1100 block of Nome Avenue, where he was found washing blood from a fresh laceration to his right hand.

On June 11, a 24-year-old Garman Road man was charged with breaking and entering a home on the 300 block of Harcourt Avenue and obstructing official business. The man was reportedly apprehended after running from a vacant house located on the 200 block of North Hawkins Avenue.

BATH: On June 1, police on Medina Road stopped the driver of a vehicle with heavily tinted windows and charged her with driving under suspension, illegal window tint and abuse of marijuana, which was found in the vehicle during a tow inventory.

Security agents at a Medina Road grocery store reported June 2 that several suspicious people were disposing of credit cards in a storm sewer. The suspects left when police approached and officers recovered a credit card from the sewer and contacted the bank that issued it.

Police responded to a report of a man slumped over the steering wheel of a vehicle with its engine running on Ira Road around 5:20 a.m. June 4. The driver failed a field sobriety test and was charged with DUI and released to a friend. His BAC tested .149.

A Ledgewood Drive woman reported June 5 that someone stole a credit card from her residence and used it to make unauthorized purchases at several area stores.

Officers from Bath, Copley and Fairlawn searched an area in Montrose June 5 for a man who attempted to rob a Medina Road bank and fled before police arrived. The suspect was located in a wooded area on Springside Drive, arrested for attempted bank robbery and taken to the Summit County Jail.

A man reported that his wallet was in a secured locker while he worked out at a Medina Road fitness center June 5. The following day, he discovered $100 and a credit card were missing from the wallet and that the card had been used to make an unauthorized purchase.

Employees of a Montrose bookstore reported a person appeared to be shoplifting in the music section June 6. Police located the suspect in the parking lot, arrested him on three warrants and charged him with possession of marijuana found in his underwear during his arrest.

A Colony Hills Drive man reported June 7 that someone called his bank and requested an address change on his account.

On June 7, a Revere Road man reported he located a vehicle for sale on a website, and on May 31 he wired $19,150 to North Carolina to purchase the vehicle, which he never received. He has been unable to contact the seller.

COPLEY: Police investigated a June 1 report regarding someone using a Brentwood Boulevard resident’s credit card to make unauthorized purchases at locations in Houston.

Police responded to reports that an erratic driver fell asleep at a drive-through window of a Jacoby Road restaurant the afternoon of June 1, exhibited other signs of intoxication and parked behind the restaurant. As police entered the lot, the driver attempted to drive away. He was stopped and had trouble exiting the vehicle. He failed a field sobriety test, and his BAC tested .202. The Copley man was arrested for DUI and driving under suspension and released with a court summons.

A Mullhaven Drive man reported June 1 that his $400 mountain bike was stolen from his garage. He said the garage door is often open and several neighborhood juveniles play basketball in his driveway.

On June 1, a Brookmont Drive man reported he received a call from a person who claimed to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA). He provided his personal information, including bank account numbers, to the suspect and later determined an unauthorized withdrawal of $447 had been paid to an organization titled Y R Benefits. He is unfamiliar with the organization, and he determined the call was not from the SSA.

The owner of a Chevy Trailblazer reported June 1 that someone used a large rock to smash the windshield of his vehicle, which was parked outside his residence on Plainview Drive. The victim reported $10,000 damage to the vehicle, which would make the crime a felony.

Officers clocked an Akron man driving 53 mph in a 35-mph zone of Jacoby Road June 2 and stopped him. When his vehicle smelled of marijuana, police questioned him, and he denied knowledge of it. The vehicle was registered in North Carolina, and the man said he rented it from a company in Montrose. Backup officers arrived and also noticed a strong odor of marijuana. The suspect was asked to exit the vehicle. Police found more than $2,500 in cash in his pockets, and a search of the vehicle revealed 372 grams of marijuana in the glove box. The suspect was charged with felony possession of marijuana, given his third speeding citation in 12 months and taken to the Summit County Jail.

Employees of a South Cleveland-Massillon Road gas station reported June 2 that a woman drove away while the gas hose was still in the gas tank of her vehicle, causing damage to the pump. Police located the Copley woman, who said it was an accident and provided her information to the gas station.

A Cleveland Heights couple reported June 3 that copper pipes and bathroom fixtures were stolen from a vacant house on Goodenough Avenue they own.

Police were called to a Mull Avenue residence June 3 and arrested a juvenile on two counts of domestic violence and took him to a detention center after his mother and father reported he shoved his 3-year-old brother to the floor several times and attacked his father, who attempted to intervene in an argument between him and his mother. The father reportedly had visible injuries. The 3-year-old’s mother said he was not harmed and that he was shoved to the floor when he attempted to play with his older brother during the argument.

FAIRLAWN: An employee of the city’s parks department reported June 1 that someone caused $100 damage to the door of a shed at a Trunko Road park.

Police investigated the burglary of a Calderwood Drive residence, where suspects entered during the day June 2 and stole two laptop computers, video games and accessories, a wireless router and three TVs.

Employees of a mall specialty store reported June 2 that two juvenile females were shoplifting in the store. Officers charged both Bedford females with theft after they searched one female’s purse and found store merchandise and items stolen from three other mall stores. That suspect’s mother was charged with obstruction of official business after she reportedly provided false information, stating she also was the mother of the other suspect. She became uncooperative with police, who also charged her with resisting arrest and released her to the Akron Police Department on two warrants. Her daughter was released to authorities at a juvenile detention center on a warrant for assault and the other juvenile was released with a court summons. Both juveniles were banned from the mall indefinitely.

An employee of a West Market Street drugstore called police at 7 a.m. June 3 when a male was seen concealing several cans of beer in his clothing. Police removed the beer from the pockets of the intoxicated Florida man, and he was transported to a detoxification center. He admitted driving to the store and also was charged with driving under suspension and was banned from the store.

Police confiscated an 18-inch men’s mountain bike June 4 after it was found in the bushes behind a Merz Boulevard shop.

An employee of a mall store reported June 4 that his wallet was stolen while he worked by suspects who used his credit cards to make unauthorized purchases at numerous area stores.

Police on Ghent Road June 5 stopped the driver of a vehicle with a loud muffler and determined the driver had a temporary permit and there was no licensed driver in the vehicle. The front seat passenger was the owner of the vehicle, which had expired license plates. A tow inventory of the vehicle revealed numerous clothing items with price tags and security sensors still attached. The items, from several mall stores, were in the vehicle trunk along with two purses that had been lined with duct tape and aluminum foil and contained wire cutters and additional rolls of duct tape and aluminum. The vehicle owner told police someone had borrowed her vehicle and denied any knowledge of the items in the trunk. Police charged the driver with driving without a license and released all parties pending the completion of an investigation into the merchandise and criminal tools.

The manager of a Caledonia Avenue group home called police June 5 after a resident began destroying walls, cabinets and items in the residence. She was transported to St. Thomas Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

A Medina woman reported June 6 that her purse was stolen from a table in a mall food court while she dined.

NORTON: An Akron woman reported her boyfriend assaulted her while they were at a Wooster Road nightclub June 2. The suspect fled before police arrived, and when he returned, he attempted to run from officers, who took him into custody, charged him with domestic violence and took him to the Summit County Jail.

Someone broke into a Wadsworth Road automotive business June 2 and stole a catalytic converter and aluminum wheels from vehicles on the lot.

Police patrolling Clark Mill Road June 2 stopped a Medina man for lane violations. He failed a field sobriety test and was charged with DUI and having an open container of beer in a vehicle and released on a signature bond.

A Barberton contractor reported June 2 that suspects broke into a construction trailer at a South Cleveland-Massillon Road site the previous night and stole heavy-duty cable worth $1,800 and three demolition hammers worth $3,600.

A man reported he went to check on his mother’s house on Romestant Road June 2 and saw a young white male with long brown hair carry a backpack out of the residence. He discovered a window had been broken and a $500 computer was missing.

On June 3, police located several children who admitted causing extensive damage to a trailer at Loyal Oak Lake Park. The victims agreed to speak to the children’s parents regarding restitution.

Officers responded to a fight in progress at an Orchard Drive residence June 3 and arrested a man for domestic violence after he allegedly threw his stepson to the ground twice during an argument. He was taken to the Summit County Jail.

A homeless man was charged with criminal trespassing on property owned by a Summit Road landfill June 4. He was released to the Medina County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant.

On June 6, a Durham Road woman reported $440 earrings and a necklace were stolen from her home. Police questioned workers who were painting the outside of her house, and one of them admitted taking the items and agreed to return them. The victim declined charges.

Police are investigating the theft of a jacket from a breakroom of a Wooster Road business June 6. Officers viewed video footage of an employee taking the jacket and placing it in his backpack.

A woman reported she took her vehicle to a Wadsworth Road automotive business for repairs in March. The manager of the business said the vehicle was stolen from the lot June 6. Police later recovered it from a location on McGowen Road, where it had become disabled. Around the same time, a McGowen Road woman reported her vehicle was stolen from her driveway. Police are investigating.

A Holly Avenue woman reported a Norton man has been harassing her family, and the most recent incident occurred June 7, when he pulled his vehicle into her driveway and yelled obscenities and racial slurs at her daughters, who were outside the residence at the time. Police had given the suspect several warnings to have no contact with members of the family and instructed the victim to notify them if the suspect returns.

Officers were called to a Clark Mill Road racetrack June 8, when members of opposing teams became engaged in a verbal confrontation that escalated when an Akron man allegedly punched a Ravenna man in the head as he pulled his car off the track. Police signed a warrant for the suspect’s arrest, but the victim changed his mind and declined prosecution.

RICHFIELD: Police were called to a domestic dispute involving two brothers at a Virginia Drive residence May 29. One man said he and his brother reside with their disabled mother, who owns the house and wants his brother to leave. Officers determined the man who has been asked to leave has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for assaulting a police officer, drug abuse and felonious assault, and there is a warning in place for officers to approach him with caution. Police were unable to charge the suspect, but they provided information to his brother regarding filing for a protection order. Officers were called back to the residence and spoke with the suspect, who agreed to leave.

On May 30, residents in the Glencairn Forest development reported construction workers have been speeding on Robert Burns Drive, particularly in the morning. Officers agreed to provide additional patrol in the area.

Police patrolling Interstate 77 the afternoon of May 30 stopped a Cleveland woman who was driving erratically. She nearly struck other vehicles in oncoming traffic while coming to a stop. She had no driver’s license and was wanted on a felony warrant. An Akron man, who was a passenger, had no license. The woman was released to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office on the warrant and the vehicle was towed.

A Streetsboro Road woman reported May 31 that someone attempted to use her Social Security number and personal information to make a wire transfer from her checking account to a bank in South Carolina. She said she was in South Carolina recently, and she allowed a distraught female to use her cell phone and laptop computer. The transfer was stopped by bank employees.

A Deer Run Oval man reported May 31 that suspects shot holes in windows of his residence.

A Maple Drive woman reported June 1 that a mail carrier stole a hat from a garage sale in her driveway and the suspect was reportedly at a Broadview Road bar. Police were unable to locate the suspect.

Officers patrolling I-77 June 1 found an abandoned, disabled vehicle with heavy front-end damage. Police located a toll receipt from the Ohio Turnpike printed earlier that day and contacted Ohio State Highway Patrol officers, who said the vehicle had been involved in a hit-skip accident and requested that it be towed to their office.

The Akron police reports were compiled by Ariel Hakim, and the remainder were compiled by Maggie DeMellier.

Editor’s note: The police reports provided here are a sampling of those filed with each community’s police departments. For questions related to the reports we’ve included or others we have not, call the West Side Leader at 330-665-9595. To provide information on an alleged criminal act noted in this week’s report, call the local police department.

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