1/7/2010 - West Side Leader
     

WEST AKRON: A 39-year-old Greenwood Avenue man was charged with felony robbery and assault Dec. 15 after allegedly punching and choking a victim and taking her money.

Burglaries occurred at the following locations: the 300 block of Noah Avenue Dec. 16-17; the 900 block of Peckham Street Dec. 22-23; the 300 block of South Maple Street Dec. 23-24; the 300 block of Mull Avenue Dec. 24; the 100 block of Elmdale Avenue Dec. 24; the 500 block of Madison Avenue Dec. 26-28; the 800 block of Valdes Avenue Dec. 27; a business in the 1500 block of Vernon Odom Boulevard Dec. 27-28; the 500 block of Grace Avenue Dec. 27-29; the 800 block of Mercer Avenue between Dec. 29 and Jan. 1; the 1300 block of Bellows Street Dec. 30; the 900 block of Bellevue Avenue Dec. 30; the 800 block of Greenwood Avenue Dec. 31; the 900 block of Whittier Avenue between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1; the 800 block of White Pine Drive between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1; the 1200 block of Roslyn Avenue Jan. 1, in which an accomplice was arrested and a suspect remains at large (see below for more on that); and the 600 block of Fernwood Drive Jan. 4 in which a 30-year-old Lovers Lane man was arrested for felony aggravated burglary, disrupting public service, assault, criminal damaging and obstructing official business.

A 29-year-old Juneau Avenue man was charged with felony theft/forgery/uttering Dec. 23. He allegedly recruited employees from an Akron hospital to participate in a tuition reimbursement scam. He issued counterfeit university transcripts to 21 participants in the scam and received a portion of the reimbursements that totaled $37,650. The participants were not legitimate students of the university.

A 51-year-old Roslyn Avenue man was charged Dec. 29 with felonious assault and domestic violence. The suspect allegedly hit the victim in the head with a bottle, causing the victim to need 15 stitches to close the wound.

A 39-year-old Mull Avenue woman was charged with complicity to commit aggravated robbery, a felony, Jan. 1. The suspect allegedly left a door to a residence in the 1200 block of Roslyn Avenue unlocked to assist an unknown suspect to rob the victim at gunpoint. The suspect reportedly fled the residence when this was occurring and failed to call 9-1-1 to alert the police of the robbery.

A 29-year-old Seward Avenue man was charged with felony domestic violence Jan. 1. The victim stated the suspect punched her several times in the face. The officers observed multiple facial injuries to the victim.

A 37-year-old Dayton Street man was charged Jan. 3 with felony robbery, vandalism, attempted breaking and entering, theft and criminal trespass. The suspect had been banned from an East Cuyahoga Falls Avenue drugstore when he allegedly attempted to steal items from the store. He then allegedly attempted to break into the same store two days later through the drive-through window, causing more than $500 worth of damage to the store. Later in the day he again tried to enter the store and was told to leave. He then reportedly went to a nearby bank and attempted to rob a victim at the ATM.

On Jan. 3, a 21-year-old Bina Avenue woman was charged with felony receiving stolen property, possession of marijuana and obstructing official business, and a 25-year-old Dover Avenue man was charged with felony willful flee, receiving stolen property, possession of crack cocaine and obstructing official business after they were stopped allegedly driving a stolen vehicle at East and Clearview avenues. Both ran from the vehicle and were apprehended inside a Bina Avenue residence. Drugs were found inside the vehicle.

On Jan. 4, an 18-year-old Zahn Drive male and a 19-year-old Baltimore Avenue male were charged with felony aggravated robbery, obstructing official business and tampering with evidence. The two allegedly robbed a victim at gunpoint at Sumner and Thornton streets, then ran from officers. While running, the 18-year-old reportedly attempted to hide the gun behind a residence on Irisdale Place, and the 19-year-old reportedly attempted to hide a mask that was used in the robbery under the seat of the cruiser after his apprehension.

BATH: On Dec. 28, police investigated a report that a man paid for service at a Montrose dry-cleaning business with a check that was written on a closed account. Officers located the suspect at the Summit County Jail, after he had been arrested for passing bad checks in Akron, and charged him with passing bad checks.

An Oak Knoll Drive resident reported Dec. 28 unknown suspects used the victim’s bank debit information to make an $82 online purchase.

An Everett Road woman called police to a domestic disturbance Dec. 29, when she reported her husband was intoxicated and the two fought. Officers arrived to find the male had left. Police located him at a residence in North Hill and advised him to get a ride to the police station to fill out a statement.

Officers responded to a one-car accident on Interstate 77 Dec. 29 and observed a heavily damaged vehicle exiting at Ghent Road. The driver was stopped for lane violations. He failed a field sobriety test and was charged with DUI and taken to the police station, where he escaped and was later apprehended hiding in an abandoned vehicle outside a nearby nursery. He was charged with escape and released to Summit County deputies on a felony warrant.

On Dec. 30, police were attempting to contact the owner of a dog that ran from a Springcrest Drive residence and bit a woman who was walking her dog.

Police responded to a domestic disturbance at a Medina Road location Dec. 30 and arrested a juvenile for allegedly assaulting his mother.

Officers responded to two calls regarding an intoxicated male at businesses in Montrose Dec. 30. Officers were called to a beauty supply business, where they found the intoxicated man and drove him to his hotel on Springside Drive. An hour later, they were called to a fast-food restaurant, where the same suspect was being belligerent with customers and employees. He was arrested for disorderly conduct and banned from the business.

A driver involved in a two-car accident in a Montrose shopping plaza Dec. 30 reported the other driver was intoxicated. Police observed signs of intoxication, and he failed a field sobriety test and was charged with DUI.

Around 2 a.m. Jan. 1, police and EMS responded to a report of a fight at a Medina Road hotel and found a man who had sustained injuries to his face and legs. He was transported to Akron General Medical Center, and police determined his injuries occurred in Cuyahoga Falls and transferred information to officers who met them at the hospital.

Police stopped a driver for a traffic violation at the intersection of Granger and Wye roads Jan. 3. He failed a field sobriety test and was charged with DUI. His BAC tested .141.

COPLEY: A driver who was stopped for a traffic violation on Copley Road Dec. 22 was arrested for driving under suspension.

Police patrolling South Cleveland-Massillon Road Dec. 23 stopped a driver and released him to Barberton police on a warrant for failure to pay a fine for an open container charge.

Suspects stole a $2,750 box trailer containing two freezers and several trophies from rib burn-off contests from outside a restaurant on Ridgewood Crossing Drive Dec. 23.

The manager of a retail store on Springside Drive reported Dec. 23 suspects passed counterfeit bills totaling $200 at one cash register.

Police responded to a domestic disturbance at a Columbus Avenue residence Dec. 23, arrested a juvenile female for domestic violence for allegedly assaulting her brother and charged their father with violating a protection order by coming to the residence.

A guest at a Rothrock Road motel reported four males kicked in the door to his room Dec. 24. A desk clerk said the suspects sped away in a white vehicle.

During the early hours of Dec. 25, police stopped a suspicious vehicle that sped out of the parking lot of a closed business on South Cleveland-Massillon Road and spoke to the driver, an 83-year-old man who said he took some items from the store because he and his wife had nothing to eat and could not afford their medication. Police provided assistance by contacting a county agency and Adult Protective Services.

The manager of a Springside Drive buffet restaurant reported Dec. 26 a man ordered only iced tea and paid with a $50 bill. He asked to make change several times, and when he left the cash register was short $300.

Police patrolling Jacoby Road Dec. 27 stopped a driver for speeding. He failed a field sobriety test and was charged with DUI.

FAIRLAWN: Police reviewed security video footage at a Montrose discount store Dec. 27 after security agents reported a 32-inch TV had been stolen and identified a man who reportedly concealed the TV in a trash bag and took it out of the store without paying for it. Officers signed a warrant for theft and went to the suspect’s home on Buffington Road, where they observed him through a window as he ran from the living room to the bathroom. Police asked him what he concealed while in the bathroom, and he admitted placing five Suboxone tablets (a controlled substance) into one of his body cavities. He removed the tablets and they were placed into evidence. The suspect was arrested for theft and obstructing official business. He was transported to Akron General Medical Center after he complained of an infected arm.

The manager of a mall kiosk reported Dec. 29 she arrived at work to find $200 in cash had been stolen from a drawer in a cabinet.

Officers arrested a man for theft Dec. 29 after he left a mall department store without paying for a $30 hat. Police found him in his vehicle in the parking lot wearing the hat.

On Dec. 29, security agents at a Montrose discount store reported a man left the store without paying for merchandise totaling $184. Police arrested him in the parking lot after he admitted taking the items, and police found the stolen goods under a vehicle.

A female was charged with theft Dec. 29 for shoplifting three shirts from a mall department store.

Police patrolling Interstate 77 Dec. 31 stopped a driver for speeding. He failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI. He and a passenger, who also was intoxicated, were taken to the police station, where the passenger was told not to leave the lobby. Officers learned he had gone, observed him walking north on Smith Road and charged him with disorderly conduct by intoxication.

On Dec. 31, an employee of an office in a Miller Road building arrived to find an exterior door had been pried open and desk drawers ransacked. Several items had been moved from the lower level to the first floor of the building, but nothing was reported missing.

Employees of a Baker Boulevard office arrived at work Dec. 31 to find pry marks and glass broken out of an office suite door. Nothing was reported missing.

Suspects entered a Miller Road accounting office Dec. 31 and pried open drawers. Nothing was reported missing.

Officers responded to a Dec. 31 call from a mall store manager who said a male used false identification when he issued a check to pay for jewelry at the store. Police located the suspect in the food court and asked him what was in the bag he had. He denied being in the store, struggled with officers over the bag and ran out of the mall. Detectives in an unmarked car outside the mall observed the suspect hide under an SUV. Police ordered him out from under the vehicle, but he refused. Officers pulled him out, restrained him and arrested him for theft, forgery, falsifying identification and resisting arrest and took him to the Summit County Jail. The Detroit man is suspected of passing bad checks, totaling more than $3,600, in Ohio and committing the same crime to a greater extent in Michigan.

On Jan. 2, police arrested a man for theft and obstruction of official business for allegedly stealing a woman’s wallet from a shopping cart in a West Market Street grocery store and providing false identification to police.

A driver who was stopped for a traffic violation on West Market Street Jan. 3 gave police a phony Mexican identification card and was charged with forgery, driving without a license and driving under suspension, and taken to the Summit County Jail.

NORTON: A driver who pulled away from a gas pump at a Wadsworth gas station, while the hose was attached to his vehicle, was stopped on Interstate 76 Dec. 24 and released to Barberton police on a felony warrant for assault.

Suspects broke the hasp and lock off a garage on Krancz Drive Dec. 25. Nothing was reported missing.

A Golf Course Drive woman reported Dec. 25 a home health care worker came to her home Dec. 22, and she asked the worker to cash two checks at the bank. The worker returned with the money, and the victim put $140 into her wallet and placed $20 on the table for groceries. When she woke from a nap, her wallet was open and all the money was gone, and the worker denied taking it.

Police investigated the burglary of a Wadsworth Road residence around 7 a.m. Dec. 25, when a woman reported suspects broke in during the night and stole a $200 video console and accessories, along with eight video games. The suspects left behind a brown right-hand glove, which officers took as evidence. Around 1:30 the following morning, officers responded to a call that suspicious people were outside a Carrillon Avenue residence tampering with vehicles. Police arrested three men and two juveniles for attempted theft, criminal trespassing and curfew violations. The five were additionally charged with burglary after police found items stolen from the Wadsworth Road home in their vehicle, along with the other brown glove.

Officers patrolling I-76 Dec. 26 stopped a driver who was straddling lanes. He explained he was sending a text message and wasn’t paying attention to his driving. Police arrested him for drug abuse and possession of paraphernalia after he surrendered marijuana and a scale.

On Dec. 28, a man reported he is purchasing a house on Johnson Road, and his employer loaned him some tools, which he locked in the house. He returned to the residence several days later to find the front door open and the tools missing.

A driver who was involved in a vehicle accident on I-76 was taken to Akron General Medical Center. Police charged him with DUI Dec. 29 after receiving results of a BAC test performed at the hospital.

Police arrested a man on a felony warrant for aggravated robbery Dec. 29, took him to the Summit County Jail and had his vehicle towed to the police station, where a vehicle inventory revealed a drug pipe. He was additionally charged with its possession.

Suspects stole a $100 reindeer decoration from the yard of a McGowan Road residence Dec. 29.

A motorist on I-76 Jan. 1 reported following an erratic driver, who exited the highway on South Cleveland-Massillon Road. Police located the driver, who was driving in the center of the road and tailgating other motorists while the roads were treacherous due to a snowstorm. Officers stopped the driver on Driftwood Drive. She admitted she was intoxicated and asked to be driven home. She failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI.

PENINSULA: Officers were called to a Keenan Road home Dec. 2 to check on the welfare of the resident and her children. The children had not reported to school and the mother could not be contacted. An officer made contact with the mother at 11:20 a.m. and advised her to call the school. No other police action was taken.

On Dec. 2, officers responded to an incomplete 9-1-1 call at Woodridge Intermediate School. The school was letting out at the time the call was made and it is believed the call was made by accident.

Police removed a tree that was blocking the road at a driveway entrance on Truxell Road Dec. 3. And on Dec. 9, three separate reports were made regarding trees blocking roadways: at Boston Mills and Interstate 271, Columbiana Road and Riverview Road, and upper Akron-Peninsula Road. All roads were cleared.

A man was pulled over Dec. 4 on Akron-Peninsula Road for running a red light. The man said he thought the light was still yellow. The driver told the officer he was a volunteer firefighter for the Northfield Fire Department and produced identification to confirm it. The fire department was contacted, but they told the officer the driver was not an employee of the department. The driver told the officer he was on a leave of absence. The driver was warned about the red light, and the volunteer firefighter identification was confiscated. He was told he could contact the Northfield Fire Department to retrieve it.

During routine patrol Dec. 5, an officer noticed the gate leading to a cell tower with an Akron-Cleveland Road address was unsecured. The officer described the security gate as being left “wide open.” The owner of the cell tower was notified.

On Dec. 6, an officer on patrol noticed a large fire behind a business on Akron-Cleveland Road. The officer called the Valley Fire District to put out the fire. After the fire was extinguished, the officer and Valley Fire personnel looked at papers in the fire and discovered mail belonging to a Keenan Road resident. The officer asked the resident if he had started the fire, and the Keenan Road resident said he did not start the fire. The officer explained the man’s mail had been found in the fire, and the man admitted he started the fire and explained he had started other fires in the same spot previously without problems. The man told the officer he didn’t think he had done anything wrong. The officer advised the man to not trespass on the property in the future.

A Stine Road man reported Dec. 8 that someone had sent him a letter in reference to his dogs being left outside. The letter stated the dogs were outside without proper shelter or bedding. A police officer checked the dogs’ condition and “found them to be in good health and very friendly.” The officer said the dogs do have proper bedding and shelter. The letter — which is signed “thank you, on behalf of your pets” — was attached to the police report.

On Dec. 12, two separate reports were filed for snowboards stolen in front of the snack shop at Boston Mills Ski Lodge on Riverview Road. One snowboard is blue and black on top, with white on the bottom, and it has white bindings with gold buckles. It has a total value of $428. The second board is gold and blue and is valued at $350. On Dec. 23, another snowboard was reportedly stolen from the ski lodge. It is white, blue and yellow with white bindings and has a total value of $750. On Dec. 29, a white, yellow and green snowboard with see-through white bindings — valued at a total of $410 — was reported stolen.

A dead deer was reported at Brandywine Country Club on Akron-Peninsula Road Dec. 19. A park ranger inspected the animal and stated the deer appeared to have been shot and killed by a small caliber gun the night before. A Summit County Wildlife officer was advised of the situation, as were workers at the golf course. The scene was cleared with no further action.

An officer came upon a water main break while on routine patrol Dec. 23 on Everett Road at the covered bridge. The road was blocked off until the Akron Water Department shut off the water. The department informed the officer they would return later in the day to fix the problem. No further police action was taken.

On Dec. 28, a woman on Keenan Road reported she has been receiving harassing text messages. The reporting officer was told by the woman he could not see the offending messages as her phone battery had died. The woman was advised to call the prosecutor’s office in Stow.

Police were called to a motel on Akron-Cleveland Road Dec. 29 to remove a guest who had damaged the room’s doorframe and window curtains. The motel manager said he did not wish to press charges, but wanted the guest to leave the premises. The guest said he had mixed beer with a prescription drug and could not explain the damage. He was told he would not be allowed back on the property, and the man said he understood.

RICHFIELD: Police went to a Kiowa Drive residence Dec. 18 and arrested a man on an Akron warrant for violating a civil protection order by being at his former girlfriend’s residence. On Dec. 22, the suspect reported he was receiving threatening calls from an unknown caller who challenged him to go to his ex-girlfriend’s house to settle a score. The female denied any knowledge of the calls, which police traced to Hawaii. The same day, the female reported the male was sending police reports containing her name to her business clients. The male denied sending the reports.

A man who went to a Brecksville Road trucking company to repossess a vehicle Dec. 22 called police to say the business owner was holding him at the business against his will. Officers arrived to find the business owner had closed and locked a gate, preventing the man from leaving with the vehicle, which he had hooked to a tow truck. Officers told the business owner the male had a legal right to take the vehicle and ordered him to release the gate, but the owner refused. Police arrested him for disorderly conduct and an employee opened the gate.

On Dec. 22, officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a Deer Creek Circle residence, where a juvenile was reportedly being unruly. Police restored peace, and all parties agreed there would be no more problems.

The manager of a Brecksville Road travel center reported Dec. 26 a man bought an energy drink and paid with a $50 bill. He received change and asked several more times for a cashier to make change for other bills. When he left, the cashier realized she had been short-changed. A similar incident occurred in Copley the same day (see Copley report above).

The Akron police reports were compiled by Stephanie Kist, and the Peninsula reports by Sean Patrick. 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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