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West Side Neighborhood Watch



WEST AKRON: Police investigated the following burglary reports: Feb. 26 in the 400 block of Bacon Avenue, Feb. 27 in the 200 block of White Pond Drive and March 2 in the 300 block of Silver Street, the 500 block of Noble Avenue and the 900 block of Packard Drive.
On Feb. 26, police investigated a report of theft by deception filed by a Mull Avenue man who stated he deposited $15,800 into a random bank account Feb. 13 after receiving a notice that he had won a million dollar sweepstakes and the deposit was required to claim his prize.
Police were called to West Market Street Feb. 26 after a woman reported she made arrangements to buy a vehicle from a man on a website and agreed to meet him outside a residence. She viewed the vehicle and asked him if she could take it for a test drive, and he demanded she pay him the $1,300 before driving it. She gave him the money and he threw a vehicle title into the car, took her money and went into the residence. Police determined the vehicle was not titled to him, and they convinced him to come to the scene, where he admitted he didn’t own the vehicle and stated the whole thing was a misunderstanding. The license plate, which had been improperly registered and had expired, was removed from the vehicle and it was towed, and charges regarding the vehicle were pending completion of an investigation. The woman’s money was returned and she was referred to the prosecutor’s office for charges.
A Beechwood Drive woman reported her phone was stolen from a table in a Copley Road home Feb. 26. Police interviewed people in the residence but were unable to locate it.
The night of Feb. 26, police patrolling Diagonal Road stopped a driver for a traffic violation at Superior Avenue just after midnight Feb. 27. A passenger exhibited nervous behavior and dropped a cigarette pack on the floor of the vehicle. Police recovered a white rock that tested positive for crack cocaine in the pack. The Bancroft Road man was arrested for felony drug possession.
Police were called to a fight between a man and woman at a Mull Avenue apartment Feb. 26. The woman reported the man pushed her aside, forced his way into the apartment and assaulted her. The man stated his name is on the apartment lease, he has a key and his belongings are still there, but he provided conflicting information regarding the incident. Following an investigation, the man was charged with disorderly conduct the following day and given a court summons.
A Whittier Avenue woman reported a TV was stolen from her home the night of Feb. 28. Police found no sign of forced entry.
Police investigated the armed robbery of a man at the intersection of North Valley and Gold streets Feb. 28 at 11 p.m. The victim reported he parked his vehicle near the intersection, got out and walked to the passenger side when he felt someone poke something against his back. The person ordered him to put his hands up, rifled his pockets and fled with $320 cash.
A contractor working on multiple properties reported Feb. 29 he fired a subcontractor who was later observed by employees entering a house under construction by accessing a lockbox. The contractor later learned that keys to lock boxes on several properties were stolen. Three of the properties are in the 100 block of Balch Street, two properties are in the 200 block of Crosby Street and one is in the 100 block of South Rhodes Avenue. He stated he is unaware whether the former subcontractor is involved, but he fears that the person who took the keys might damage the property or steal tools and supplies.
Police patrolling Copley Road Feb. 29 observed a suspicious vehicle at several locations and stopped the driver for a traffic violation on Trigonia Avenue. The Lagoon Street woman was arrested for driving under suspension, felony drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia after police recovered more than 2 grams of methamphetamine and a snort straw during a search of the vehicle.
A Sunset View Drive man reported Feb. 29 a package delivered to his residence at 1:15 p.m. the previous day was stolen from his porch.
On March 1, police and EMS responded to a report of cardiac arrest at a residence in the 1900 block of McTaggart Drive and found a man lying on the floor. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and police determined he had been bludgeoned to death. They arrested a man at the residence for murder and incarcerated him in the Summit County Jail.
Police responded to a disturbance in the parking lot of a West Market Street store March 1 after a man reported a group of males approached him, demanded his motorcycle and threatened him. The victim, who has a permit to carry a gun, put his hand on the weapon, took out his cellphone and told them he was calling the police and they fled. Police located the males, and the victim identified them. An adult man and three juveniles were charged with disorderly conduct. The juveniles were released to their parents.
A resident of a White Pond Drive apartment complex reported March 1 someone entered a storage compartment beside his, cut through a wire-mesh partition to enter his storage space and then stole camping equipment, tools, antiques and other items.
Police investigated a shooting in the 1200 block of Nome Avenue March 1 after a man walked into the emergency room of a hospital at 1:30 a.m. with a gunshot in the abdomen. He told police he was shot while he was in his home.
Following an investigation into a string of robberies of Copley Road businesses, police identified a person responsible, and with assistance from the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, they arrested the Akron man March 2 on Schiller Street. He was charged with robbery of a drugstore in the 1300 block of Copley Road and a discount store in the 900 block of Copley Road. He is also believed to be involved in the robbery of a drugstore in the 1300 block of Copley Road and a pizza restaurant in the 1200 block of Copley Road. He was taken to the Summit County Jail, and additional charges are pending completion of an investigation.

BATH: The manager of a Medina Road store reported Feb. 24 a customer used checks written on a closed account to pay for merchandise on two occasions. Police determined the customer was wanted on warrants for passing bad checks in other communities.
Police reviewed video surveillance from a Medina Road restaurant Feb. 24 during an investigation of theft of a sign from the front lobby. The person responsible took a sign that read, “Wait to be seated.”
Also on Feb. 24, officers patrolling Medina Road observed a vehicle in the parking lot of a restaurant and learned the owner was wanted on a felony warrant in Richland County. Police determined a man in the vehicle was the owner, arrested him on the warrant and took him to the Summit County Jail to await pickup by Richland County sheriff’s deputies.
Police were called to Revere High School Feb. 25 after a student reported she received a series of text messages from an unknown number and one of the messages was a threat to kill her and a member of her family. Police attempted to call the number, stated they would continue these efforts and would increase patrols around the student’s residence.
On Feb. 26 at 1 p.m., police responded to a disturbance outside a medical facility. A woman reported she had an argument with her niece, who fled on foot and called her to say she was walking on Interstate 77. Police searched the area but could not locate the niece, who called back and said she was in a taxi. Officers instructed her to return to the facility so they could check on her welfare. She returned and became irate, screaming and attempting to run into traffic. She was apprehended, placed in handcuffs for her safety and transported to a hospital by EMS.
The driver of a vehicle with a loud exhaust system was stopped on Medina Road Feb. 28, arrested for driving under suspension and released to Medina County sheriff’s deputies on a warrant.
A Walnut Ridge Road man reported Feb. 29 someone used a gift card he purchased for his daughter to make $500 in purchases.

COPLEY: Employees of a Medina Road store reported Feb. 23 a shoplifter had just left and drove away. Police stopped the driver on Interstate 77, recovered merchandise totaling $220, charged the woman with theft and driving under suspension and released her with a court summons.
Police were called to a Medina Road business Feb. 25. An employee turned over to officers a handgun found in a vehicle that had been returned. Police contacted the gun owner and advised him the handgun would be released to him following clearance by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Also on Feb. 25, police confiscated 19 counterfeit $50 bills and reviewed video surveillance in an attempt to identify a man who used the bills to purchase seven cartons of cigarettes and $400 worth of lottery tickets from a Copley Road gas station.
A Hunt Club Drive woman reported Feb. 25 the license plate was stolen from a tractor-trailer owned by her employer. She stated the license plate was recorded at a highway tollbooth in Texas.
An employee of a facility on Chestnut Chase reported a catalytic converter was stolen from her vehicle while it was in the parking lot where she worked the night of Feb. 25. Police were reviewing video surveillance of the lot.
Police responded to a report of burglary in progress at a Millhaven Avenue residence Feb. 26 at 7 a.m. and found a man who fit the description of the person involved walking away from the residence. He was questioned and provided police with a first name and birth date of 2010. He was taken to the police station to be identified, and officers determined he was wanted on warrants by multiple police agencies. The victim was uncertain about making charges and was advised to come to the police station if she decided to pursue the matter. The man was released to the Akron Police Department on a felony warrant.
Contractors were advised to halt construction and utility work for a project in the 4000-4200 block of Ridgewood Road Feb. 26 after Copley Township officials were unable to verify permits and specifics of the work being done. Construction was to resume when all required information was received.
A driver stopped on Montrose West Avenue Feb. 26 was arrested for driving under suspension and possession of drug abuse instruments after he surrendered two hypodermic syringes.
Following a traffic stop on White Pond Drive Feb. 27, police arrested a man for driving under suspension and released him to the Barberton Police Department on a warrant.
A driver was stopped for a traffic violation as she exited I-77 onto Medina Road Feb. 28. Two men in the vehicle were arrested for possession of marijuana and a grinder that were found after a K-9 officer indicated the presence of contraband. The men were given court summonses and released.
Police patrolling Medina Road Feb. 28 stopped the driver of a Hyundai with a license plate that expired in 2017 and was registered to another vehicle. She was charged with driving under suspension and having fictitious license plates and her vehicle was towed. She was released with a court summons, and police drove her and her children to their hotel.

FAIRLAWN: Police responded to a report that a shoplifter fled from a mall store and security agents Feb. 22. They recovered merchandise from two stores, charged the Massillon man with theft, advised him he is banned from the mall indefinitely and released him to Stark County sheriff’s deputies on a felony warrant.
Employees of a Montrose store reported Feb. 23 a woman took an item from a display and attempted to return it for a refund. She provided a false Social Security number to police, who determined it belonged to a male. She also provided a second false identification, which was her daughter’s. The Snowfall Spur woman was arrested for theft and misrepresentation and released to Summit County sheriff’s deputies on a felony warrant.
On Feb. 24, an employee of a company reported her cellphone was stolen while she was providing service to a Montrose store. She stated she had placed her phone on a shelf while she worked.
Police responded to a report that a woman concealed merchandise in a book bag, left a Montrose store without making payment Feb. 24 and fled in a vehicle. Officers stopped the vehicle on West Market Street, returned the stolen merchandise to the store and charged the Thornville woman with theft. She was informed that she was banned from the store.
A Sand Run Parkway woman reported Feb. 24 her computer locked while she was using it and a phone number appeared on the screen. When she called the number, a man told her to withdraw $12,000 from her bank account and use it to purchase gift cards at two nearby stores. She purchased the cards and provided the numbers to the caller, and he asked her to purchase more cards, which she charged on her credit card. She purchased gift cards totaling $15,500, which the caller said she would get back. Her computer was not restored and she received no money back. Police, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney General’s Office are investigating. Her computer was taken to a legitimate business to be repaired.
Officers patrolling West Market Street Feb. 25 stopped the driver of a vehicle with two different license plates, both of which had expired. The Robert Street woman was charged with driving under suspension, improper registration and possession of drugs after she surrendered a bag containing 3 grams of marijuana.
On Feb. 25, police responded to an anonymous call about a man and woman fighting behind a building on Shiawassee Avenue. Police found the couple standing beside a vehicle and questioned them. Both stated they had been pretending to fight, and they left in separate vehicles.

NORTON: A driver stopped for traffic violations on Interstate 76 Feb. 19 was arrested for driving under suspension and released to Medina County sheriff’s deputies on a warrant. Also, a passenger was arrested for possession of drug abuse instruments and released with a court summons after officers found a hypodermic needle in her possession during a search of the vehicle.
Following a traffic stop on Eastern Road Feb. 20, a man was arrested for driving under suspension and released with a court summons. Also, a passenger was charged with felony drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia after police recovered several containers of methamphetamine, drug pipes and snort straws from her book bag and coat pocket. She was taken to the Summit County Jail and the vehicle was towed.
On Feb 20 at 9 a.m., employees of Norton Primary School reported a suspicious man was on the property. When police arrived, employees opened the door of a van and the man emerged. He told police he was being chased by Hell’s Angels, who wanted his SIM cards, and he got into a van on the property to hide. During a consent search, police found a hypodermic syringe and a vial containing powder residue. He was charged with trespassing on school property and possession of drug abuse instruments and released with a court summons. Officers observed him sitting outside a business in Norton Plaza Feb. 25 at 3 a.m. and assisted him in getting to a hospital, where he checked himself in for an evaluation.
Police stopped a driver for speeding on Greenwich Road Feb. 21 and arrested a passenger in the vehicle for possession of 27 grams of marijuana. He was released with a court summons.
Officers responded to a disturbance at a Norton Avenue residence Feb. 21. A woman reported a man who spent the night with her pushed her down the stairs of her trailer. The man stated she punched and shoved him and fell down the stairs. Police provided her with information to obtain a protection order, and charges were pending completion of an investigation and interviews of witnesses.
Also on Feb. 21, police were called to a Wooster Road business after an employee was transported to a hospital for a psychological evaluation and advised not to return.
Employees of a Greenwich Road store reported a woman concealed $58 in merchandise in her purse and left the store without paying for it Feb. 22. She was charged with theft and released with a court summons.
Following a traffic stop on Barber Road Feb. 22, a man was arrested for driving under suspension and released to the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department on a warrant.
Loss prevention agents at a Greenwich Road store reported a shoplifter concealed merchandise and fled on foot Feb. 22. Police located the man hiding in a trash bin outside a nearby restaurant and saw a steak fillet lying on the ground nearby. Officers took him into custody and observed steak fillets falling out of his socks and pants. He was charged with theft of $89 in merchandise, banned from the store and released with a court summons.
A Greenwich Road couple reported Feb. 24 they determined $4,844 was missing from a safe in the basement of their home after they had work done on the residence.
A McCoy Road woman reported Feb. 24 her dog was inside her residence when she left it Feb. 17 and locked the door. She returned two hours later to find her dog outside and the door locked. She asked that the matter be documented and stated she had her locks changed.
A contractor reported Feb. 25 he transports damaged and broken appliances from area stores and he believes people were stealing the appliances from storage trailers outside the stores. He saw some of the appliances advertised online and recognized them as those missing from storage trailers outside stores in Bath and Brimfield. He stated he made an appointment with a man who was selling a washing machine that bore the serial number of one that had been stolen and asked police to go with him to meet the man at a Barber Road storage facility. Officers spoke to the seller and the man who rented the storage unit. Both men stated they didn’t know much about the appliances and admitted they fixed and sold them. The renter allowed police into the unit, where they found washers, dryers, refrigerators and ranges. The owner of the storage facility said the renter violated a rental agreement and evicted him from the unit. Both men agreed to talk to police and were interviewed at the police station, released and advised that detectives would contact them.
A man reported Feb. 26 someone stole items from his unit at a Newpark Drive storage facility.
Police were called to Norton High School the morning of Feb. 26. School officials reported an unknown driver turfed a field outside the school, and video surveillance showed a green truck causing the damage. Police located the truck parked outside the school and saw the butt of a gun sticking out of the center console. A search of the vehicle revealed it was a pellet gun. Police also recovered an air-powered pellet rifle, an air-powered pellet gun, two machetes, two large knives, a baseball bat and an ax. The driver was taken to the police station and interviewed about the weapons. He admitted he caused the property damage and his vehicle was towed. Charges were pending completion of an investigation.

PENINSULA/BOSTON: A Peninsula resident reported she left her home at 9 a.m. Jan. 6, and when she returned a few hours later, she noticed someone had hit the right front fender of her car.
On Jan. 8, a Peninsula Police Department officer was contacted regarding damage to a church on West Hines Hill Road. An unknown person reportedly had thrown “a large piece of concrete through the left front window of the church … and two glass window panes were damaged as a result.” The damage is believed to have occurred between Jan. 1 and Jan. 4. Further investigation was pending.
On Jan. 15, an officer was dispatched to the area of state Route 303 at Stine Road to assist the Summit County Sheriff’s Office with a possible intoxicated driver. Upon arrival, the officer met a sheriff’s deputy, who said he had been following the vehicle on SR 303 and had observed “the vehicle weaving within its lane of travel and briefly cross over the yellow divider and white fog lines seven to eight times.” The deputy had conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, who reportedly admitted to having smoked marijuana earlier in the day and had marijuana in wax form and a smoking device in a book bag in the vehicle. The officer then had the driver perform three standardized field sobriety tests, which the driver passed. During a search of the vehicle, the officer retrieved the wax marijuana and smoking device as evidence, and the driver was issued citations for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
An officer was dispatched to a Truxell Road location Jan. 17 in reference to the discharging of a firearm. While en route, the officer was advised four males had left the area in a vehicle headed south on Akron-Peninsula Road. The officer checked the area but could not locate the vehicle. Officers checked a wooded area near a parking lot for shell casings and located 51 9mm shell casings and an empty Winchester ammunition box. An officer took photos of the area, including the shell casings and ammunition box, as evidence and later returned to take photos of bullet holes in some of the trees. Further investigation was pending.

RICHFIELD: On Feb. 17, the manager of a Brecksville Road business reported the business’ computers were hacked and requested documentation of the incident. The manager agreed to provide more information as it became available.
Police were called to a Broadview Road post office Feb. 18. The postmaster told police a woman picked up a package, showed her a receipt that had been left at her residence and left without showing identification, which is required by the post office. Officers went to the home of the customer, who agreed to go to the post office and resolve the matter. No further police action was required.
A Brecksville Road woman reported Feb. 19 her federal income tax return was rejected by the IRS because someone used her name and Social Security number to file a fraudulent tax return. She stated she had to file an affidavit with the federal government and she reported the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission. The matter was forwarded to the department’s Detective Bureau.
On Feb. 19, police met with Revere High School officials and school resource officers regarding an issue involving sending and receiving inappropriate pictures.
Police responded to a disturbance at a Monica Drive residence Feb. 19. EMS transported a woman to a medical facility, and following an investigation, a male at the residence was charged with domestic violence.
The driver of a vehicle without headlights was stopped on Interstate 77 Feb. 19 at 8:37 p.m. She provided several different dates of birth and Social Security numbers, but was identified, arrested for driving without a license and released to the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department on a warrant. During a vehicle inventory, police recovered several bags containing clothing items with security tags attached and conducted an investigation into possible theft charges.
Police were called to a Brecksville Road motel the night of Feb 20. Two men told police they went to the room where an employee was staying, knocked on the door and he came out and assaulted them. Police interviewed the employee and his girlfriend, who provided written statements about the confrontation. They stated the men came to the employee’s room, began pounding on the door and repeatedly attempted to push the door open and enter his room. The employee said he told the men he was off duty and they should go to the front desk to get supplies for their room. He stated they became irate and aggressive and he had to physically shove them away and hit them. He was advised that he could file charges, and he declined. The men were told that they should stay in their rooms and not contact the off-duty employee, and they became irate. They were told to go to bed until they were sober and if there were any more disturbances they could be charged.
On Feb. 21, police investigated the theft of catalytic converters from several trucks in the parking lot of a Brecksville Road business. Officers are seeking the driver of a suspicious vehicle seen in the area at the time of the incidents.

The Peninsula/Boston reports were compiled by Sean Patrick and the remainder by Maggie DeMellier.