2/18/2010 - West Side Leader
     

WEST AKRON: Burglaries occurred in the following locations: the 1100 block of Greenwood Avenue between Jan. 1 and Jan. 31; the 700 block of West Exchange Street Feb. 8; the 900 block of Dover Avenue Feb. 9; a business in the first block of Aqueduct Street Feb. 9; a business in the 600 block of West Market Street Feb. 10, in which a 44-year-old Trigonia Drive man was arrested [see below for more on that arrest]; the 300 block of West Cedar Street, in which three suspects were arrested [see below for more on that]; and a business in the 700 block of West Market Street Feb. 11.

A 27-year-old Cuyahoga Falls man was charged Feb. 9 with felony breaking and entering and felony theft. He allegedly stole three tires and rims valued at almost $2,000 from a North Akron car dealership. The suspect also is allegedly involved in the theft of more than 325 hubcaps from various vehicles with an estimated value of more than $5,000.

A 63-year-old Burton Avenue man was charged with felony breaking and entering Feb. 10. He allegedly broke into a Cedar Street location and stole scrap metal and miscellaneous property. Two accomplices also were arrested.

A 40-year-old Frederick Boulevard man was charged Feb. 10 with felony violation of a protection order. He has a prior conviction for violating a protection order from 2009.

A 26-year-old Dominion Drive man was charged Feb. 10 with felony domestic violence. On Feb. 9, the suspect allegedly grabbed the victim and put her into a headlock, then bit her forehead. The victim had visible swelling, a bite mark and bruising to her forehead.

A 44-year-old Trigonia Drive man was charged Feb. 11 with felony breaking and entering. On Feb. 10, he allegedly forced his way into a business in the 600 block of West Market Street and was apprehended inside in possession of a screwdriver handle.

The Akron Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force are asking for assistance from the public for information that could lead to the arrest of Rodney Jovan Williams. He is wanted for felonious assault, having weapons under disability and carrying a concealed weapon. On Dec. 16 around 11:30 p.m., the male victim reported he was walking with a friend on Moon Street. Williams approached the victim and started an argument, then allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the victim in the chest. He was transported to Akron General Medical Center for treatment. Williams is a black male, 18 years old, 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing 135 pounds. He has a last known address on Euclid Avenue. A reward is being offered for information directly related to his arrest. Anyone knowing his whereabouts is encouraged to call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at (330) 375-2490, the U.S. Marshals Service at (866) 4-WANTED or Summit County Crimestoppers at (330) 434-COPS. Callers can remain anonymous.

An 18-year-old Noah Avenue man was charged Feb. 13 with felony receiving stolen property. He and another juvenile male were observed pushing a wheelbarrow containing a flat-screen TV down East Brookside Avenue around 3:30 a.m. The TV had been reported stolen from a Bellows Street address. The 18-year-old was booked into the Summit County Jail and the juvenile was placed into the custody of the Summit County Juvenile Detention Facility.

A 37-year-old Elmdale Avenue man was charged Feb. 14 with drug abuse, a sound amplifying device violation and failure to disclose personal information. Having parked his vehicle in the 100 block of Bowdoin Lane with the stereo blaring, the suspect refused to give officers his name or other identifying information. After officers placed him under arrest, they found powdered cocaine in his right front pants pocket.

A 28-year-old Oakdale Avenue man was charged Feb. 14 with felonious assault and domestic violence. On Feb. 4, the suspect allegedly punched the victim, with whom he has a child in common, in the face several times. When she threatened to call the police, he fled. The victim went to a local hospital for treatment; she had several lacerations over her left eye, cuts to the top and bottom of her lips and a red mark under her left eye.

BATH: Police investigated a report of burglary Feb. 4, when suspects entered a garage on West Point Avenue and ransacked a vehicle. Nothing was reported missing. Police followed footprints to a nearby driveway, where the suspects apparently parked a vehicle, and found evidence lying in the snow.

Officers fired two shots to kill a deer, which had been injured when it ran across Crystal Lake Road and was struck by a vehicle Feb. 5.

On Feb. 6, police investigated a report filed by a motorist who said a mail truck crossed the center lane of Granger and struck the side mirror of his vehicle.

A Lake Point Drive man reported Feb. 7 that suspects obtained his credit card information while he was in Mexico and used it to incur numerous charges in his name.

Two juveniles found sleeping in a vehicle outside a Barnsleigh Drive residence Feb. 7 told police they had been drinking at a party at the residence and they chose not to drive home. The two were taken to the police station and released to their parents.

Police contacted the owner of two dogs Feb. 8 after his neighbor reported the dogs have been trespassing on adjoining property. The owner said his dogs are having problems adjusting to an electrical fence and agreed to keep them contained until the problem is resolved.

An Ira Road woman reported Feb. 9 her former boyfriend sent her a threatening message via a third party’s e-mail. She said she does not want an investigation at this time.

Officers patrolling Montrose Feb. 9 stopped the driver of a vehicle with expired license plates, noticed an odor of marijuana in the vehicle and saw a marijuana cigar in plain view in the ashtray. A vehicle inventory revealed a bag of marijuana and two Percocet tablets, and the driver was charged with possession of drugs and paraphernalia. Additional charges are pending testing of a white powder that was found in the glove box.

A Revere Road businesswoman reported Feb. 10 a woman purchased cosmetics from her and paid with a check for $2,500, which a Fairlawn bank confirmed was legitimate when she cashed it. She later learned the check was fraudulent, and the bank has refused to cover her loss.

Police investigated a Feb. 11 report stating a patient at a Ghent Road medical facility might be using deception to obtain narcotics.

Akron police arrested suspects who stole hubcaps from a vehicle in the parking lot of a North Cleveland-Massillon Road business Feb. 11 and recovered numerous hubcaps stolen from vehicles in communities throughout Summit County.

COPLEY: Police on South Cleveland-Massillon Road Jan. 31 stopped the driver of a vehicle with a cracked windshield and arrested him for driving under several suspensions. When he exited the vehicle, he was wearing a uniform from Chippewa Township Fire Department, and he told police he was an EMS worker with the township. Officers asked him if the township officials were aware of his license suspensions, and he said he had taken care of the matter. Officers later determined the man was not employed by the township and that he has a lengthy criminal record. Charges of impersonation were pending completion of an investigation.

The manager of a Rothrock Road motel reported Jan. 31 the bank failed to receive a deposit. An employee, who claimed she made the deposit, quit her job the next day and could not be located.

On Feb. 4, police searched the area around Copley and Schocalag roads after receiving reports that a man wanted on a warrant was riding a bike along the road. Officers followed the bicycle tracks to an abandoned house nearby and were unable to locate the suspect, whom they later found hiding in a house on Aberth Drive. He was arrested and taken to Barberton Municipal Court.

Police stopped a driver for a traffic violation on Rothrock Road Feb. 5 and arrested him for driving without a license. The vehicle owner, a passenger in the vehicle, admitted she knew the 41-year-old has never been issued a driver’s license. She was charged with unlawful entrustment of a vehicle. The driver claimed ownership of a crack pipe and other drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, and he was charged with possession of paraphernalia.

The coach of the Copley High School swim team reported Feb. 5 that items were stolen from three swimmers’ lockers during a swim meet. He said the only access to the locker room was through the pool area and that around 40 swimmers from both teams had access to the locker room.

Officers responded to a vehicle crash at the intersection of Ridgewood Road and Interstate 77 Feb. 6 and arrested one driver on a warrant and released him to Pepper Pike police.

On Feb. 7, police responded to a report of a theft in progress at a Rothrock Road retail store, where employees stopped a female in the parking lot after she reportedly took merchandise into the restroom and left the store without paying for it. Employees recovered the stolen items and the suspect surrendered to police several hypodermic needles and three spoons containing drug residue. She was charged with possession of drug abuse instruments and she signed a court summons using the name of another female. She was later charged with forgery, identity fraud and obstruction of justice.

Officials at Copley High School called police Feb. 8 when a student was obviously under the influence of an intoxicant. He admitted he smoked two marijuana cigars and took two Xanax tablets he purchased from another student for $6. He was transported to Akron Children’s Hospital for evaluation. Charges were pending completion of an investigation.

A Sumner Parkway woman reported Feb. 8 three rings were stolen from her room. She said one was missing in December, but she was uncertain if it had been stolen. The other two rings were stolen from her dresser between Feb. 1 and Feb. 8.

The property manager of a Hunt Club Drive complex reported Feb. 8 a suspect backed a vehicle into a garage, damaging the door and a waterspout.

A Bender Lane man reported Feb. 9 his estranged wife called his home several times in violation of a court order prohibiting her from contacting him.

Employees of a South Cleveland-Massillon Road veterinary clinic reported Feb. 9 an intoxicated female was at the business. Officers arrived to find her attempting to drive out of the parking lot. She failed a field sobriety test and was charged with DUI and released with a court summons.

FAIRLAWN: Around 4 a.m. Feb. 7, police responded to a call of a shoplifter at a West Market Street drugstore, where a man stole three candy bars. When officers arrived, three 15-year-old males who had been with the suspect in the store left in his car. Police charged the suspect with theft and called the juveniles to return to the scene. All four males were charged with possession of marijuana, which was found in the vehicle, and the three juveniles were released to their parents.

On Feb. 7, mall security agents observed three juvenile males who had been banned from the mall in a game arcade and called police, who arrived to find the suspects’ mother arguing with security agents that the juveniles were not trespassing because they were with her. The agents said they would prosecute the suspects for trespassing, and their mother interfered when police attempted to take them into custody. When police arrested the woman for obstructing official business, one male interfered with the arrest and also was charged with obstructing official business, and all three were charged with criminal trespassing and banned from the mall for another year.

Suspects removed two window screens to enter two offices on West Market Street Feb. 8. A stereo and other items were stolen from one.

A woman who took a digital picture frame from a display and attempted to return it for a refund Feb. 8 was refused a refund and she left the store without paying for the item. She was stopped in the parking lot, arrested for theft and criminal trespassing (she had been permanently banned from the store in 2007) and released to Akron police on nine warrants.

The night of Feb. 8, suspects used a projectile to break the window of a Shiawassee Avenue business, reach inside the broken window and open a door to enter and steal a flat-screen TV. 

The driver of a vehicle with expired license plates was stopped at a West Market Street gas station Feb. 9. He was charged with possession of a crack pipe that was found in the vehicle.

Akron police arrested a man wanted on a warrant for felony theft in Fairlawn. Police charged him and took him to the Summit County Jail Feb. 10.

The son of a Cabot Drive woman reported Feb. 10 he learned his mother had wired a total of $500 to suspects in Jamaica, who told her she won $9 million in a lottery, and have been calling her to ask for more money. Police spoke to one suspect and told him not to contact the victim again. Detectives are investigating.

A Copley woman reported Feb. 11 four vials of medication mistakenly sent to her former address on Park Hill Drive Feb. 3 were stolen.

On Feb. 11, Brimfield police arrested a woman on a Fairlawn warrant for misrepresenting her identity when police arrested her for theft and released her with a court summons. She was charged and taken to the Summit County Jail.

NORTON: The owner of a Clarkmill Road sand and gravel business reported suspects broke into the building during the night Feb. 2 and stole a TV and aluminum worth $1,050.

Police investigated the theft of a $1,400 four-wheeled, off-road vehicle from a garage on McCoy Road Feb. 3.

A Hametown road couple reported Feb. 5 an unknown suspect transferred more than $3,000 from their bank account into another account. Police are investigating.

An Oak Street business owner reported Feb. 5 a suspect has been leaving lewd phone messages on the business phone. Police called the phone number and left a message for the suspect to call officers.

Officers investigated an accident on 31st Street Feb. 7 when a driver lost control of a vehicle and crashed into a pole and snow bank. The suspect drove away from the accident scene, swerving on the road. The suspect then parked his vehicle outside a Greenwich Road fast-food restaurant, where police found it with the engine running. They located the driver in the business. He failed a field sobriety test and was charged with DUI.

The manager of a Shellhart Road group home reported he found two juvenile residents in possession of marijuana Feb. 8. Police charged them with drug abuse and confiscated the contraband.

On Feb. 8, police investigated a suspicious vehicle on Wesleyan Avenue and found four juveniles who admitted smoking marijuana, but denied drinking. Officers confiscated a bottle of vodka, three pieces of marijuana and drug paraphernalia from the vehicle and contacted the suspects’ parents, who agreed to comply with a disciplinary plan.

Officers patrolling Interstate 76 the night of Feb. 10 observed a vehicle swerving on the road and stopped the driver, who denied drinking despite obvious signs of intoxication. He sped away from the traffic stop and led police on a pursuit to his driveway on Wadsworth Road, where he exited the vehicle and attempted to go into his house. Police apprehended him and took him to the police station, where he failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI and traffic offenses. He was held until the following morning, when he appeared in court on the charges.

RICHFIELD: The owner of a Richfield business reported Feb. 2 he gave a cell phone to a prospective employee in December. When he didn’t hire her, she failed to return the phone. Police contacted the female and advised her to return the phone or she would be charged with theft.

A service department employee reported Feb. 2 a man has been parking a truck in a city park near Wheatley Road and plugging a heater into an outlet and obtaining electricity from the city. Police went to the park, found the man whose truck heater was plugged into the outlet and advised him not to park the truck there or use the city’s electricity, or he would be charged with trespassing and theft.

Police responded to a traffic accident on Wheatley Road Feb. 2, assisted with the tow of the vehicles and found marijuana and rolling papers in one. The driver was charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

Officers patrolling Streetsboro Road Feb. 3 were flagged down by a woman who said she has received phone calls by an unknown male calling from a blocked number, who makes sexually explicit remarks. Police advised her to call them if she receives any more calls.

On Feb. 4, officers patrolling Streetsboro Road stopped the driver of a vehicle with a loud exhaust system and noticed the smell of marijuana in the vehicle. The driver admitted smoking marijuana earlier in the day, and he was charged with driving under the influence of drugs. Police confiscated 37 grams of marijuana, a drug pipe, scales and other items and charged the suspect with their possession. He was released on bond.

A man found sleeping in a vehicle on Broadview Road Feb. 7 denied he had been drinking. He failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI and possession of an open bottle of vodka in a vehicle. His BAC tested .26.

The Akron police reports were compiled by Stephanie Kist, 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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