Akron.com

West Side Neighborhood Watch



Editor’s note: Regarding area residents’ reporting of fraudulent activity related to receiving unemployment benefits that weren’t sought, police advise victims of this type of fraud to file a police report, contact the Federal Trade Commission and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ fraud hotline, notify their financial institutions and credit reporting agencies, monitor their credit and bank accounts and report any suspicious activity to police.

 

WEST AKRON: Police investigated burglary reports April 27 in the 700 block of White Pond Drive and May 3 in the 600 block of Payne Avenue.
At 1 a.m. April 24, police responded to noise complaints at a residence on Gale Street and observed a man outside his apartment with the door open and loud music coming from inside. Officers asked him to turn it down and he cursed at them and said he would call police on them. He reportedly continued his belligerent behavior and was arrested for disorderly conduct and taken to the Summit County Jail.
Firefighters called police April 25 to a vacant lot on Rockwell Court where they had extinguished a suspicious fire in a Toyota Tundra. Firefighters stated they believed it was an arson fire and the perpetrator had used gasoline to start it.
A Hartford Avenue man reported April 26 his ex-girlfriend came to his home, started an argument, assaulted him, stole $500 shoes and caused extensive damage to the doors, hood, trunk and interior of his vehicle. The victim provided video surveillance of the woman damaging the vehicle. Police signed warrants for the arrest of the Minerva Place woman for theft, assault and criminal damaging.
Officers investigated reports that shots were fired in the area of Cromwell Drive just before midnight April 27 and found a bullet had entered a window of a residence.
Police signed a warrant for the arrest of a Brittain Road man for felonious assault April 27 after officers responded to a shooting in the area of Wildwood and Hoye avenues and determined a man had been shot in the leg and transported to a hospital by a family member. Officers are seeking others in connection with the shooting.
A Nome Avenue man reported he left his unlocked vehicle with the key inside in his driveway while he went to the back yard for 20 minutes April 28. He returned to find the vehicle had been stolen.
Also on April 28, police responded to a fight involving a man and woman at a location on Noble Avenue and found the victim at a Copley Road gas station. She told police she assisted a man, who called her to help him get gas for his car, and when she drove him back to Noble Avenue they argued and he assaulted her and threw her purse into his vehicle. She said she then drove away and he followed her to the gas station, where he rammed his vehicle into hers. He provided conflicting and inconsistent information. Police returned her purse to her, charged the Haynes Street man with robbery and criminal damaging and took him to the Summit County Jail.
Officers from the Adult Parole Authority reported April 29 they observed a gun in plain view in a Wildwood Avenue residence during a routine visit.
Police responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the 900 block of Slosson Street April 28 and determined the vehicle had been burned. A gas can and towel were recovered at the scene. An arson investigator responded and the vehicle was towed.
The night of May 1, police attempted to stop a driver who was observed speeding away from a hospital after dropping off a shooting victim. Officers abandoned the vehicle pursuit at a location on Roslyn Avenue and later recovered the abandoned vehicle in the 1300 block of Frederick Boulevard. Police recovered a handgun near the hospital, in the vehicle’s flight path, and determined the vehicle had been damaged by bullets. Officers are investigating a shooting in the area of East Buchtel Avenue, where the victim was shot. His injury was not life-threatening.
Following a traffic stop at the intersection of Copley Road and Interstate 77 May 1, police arrested a Brunswick man who was a passenger for possession of MDMA (Ecstasy).
Police responded to reports of shots fired inside a residence in the 900 block of Cordova Avenue May 2, evacuated occupants and conducted a protective sweep to look for victims. Officers observed a pistol, shotgun and ammunition in the bedroom of a man and spoke to another resident, at whom he shot. The bullet missed the roommate, traveled through four interior walls, exited through a window and lodged in the living room wall of a neighboring residence. The resident was charged with felonious assault and improper discharge of a weapon, and police obtained a search warrant for his bedroom. He complained of a medical problem, was examined and released by EMS and then taken to the Summit County Jail.
On May 3, police investigated the theft of a vehicle from a parking lot in the 900 block of Mull Avenue.

BATH: An employee of a Medina Road store reported April 26 a man who stole socks from the store on a prior occasion entered the store, concealed socks in a bag from a nearby store and left without paying for them. Police located him in an adjacent parking lot and he reportedly admitted taking the merchandise. He was charged with theft and advised he is banned from the store.
An Everett Road man reported April 27 he received a call from a person who claimed to represent an online marketplace, stating he had made a large purchase and providing a phone number for him to call. He called the number to report that he had not made the purchase and was told that the money had been refunded, but too much money was refunded and he was instructed to pay it back by purchasing gift cards and providing the numbers to the caller, which he did.
Police responded to a disturbance at a North Cleveland-Massillon Road residence April 27. A man reported his ex-girlfriend refused to leave and shoved his roommate. The woman was gone before officers arrived and they advised the resident to call if she returned.
The manager of a Medina Road business reported April 28 a man was panhandling in the drive-thru lane. Police released him to the Barberton Police Department on a warrant.
On April 28, police reviewed video surveillance from a North Cleveland-Massillon Road store after loss prevention agents reported a man took a leaf blower from a shelf and attempted to get a refund for it. He provided his name and identity, but stated the transaction was taking too long and fled with the item. He is being sought for thefts from other stores in the chain.
Officers searched the Wye Road area April 28, but failed to locate a motorcyclist after an acquaintance reported he was walking on the road and the man stopped his motorcycle and attempted to fight him.
Employees of a Medina Road store called police April 28 for a woman who was behaving in a bizarre manner. Police located her walking in the middle of Springside Drive and called EMS to transport her to a hospital.
The manager of a Medina Road hotel reported April 28 a man who had used a scam to defraud the business of payment for his stay on past occasions was at the hotel requesting a room. Police advised him he is banned from the hotel.
Police signed a warrant for the arrest of a man for domestic violence April 29 after responding to a fight at a Medina Road hotel. A woman stated a man assaulted her during an argument and fled before officers arrived. When he called the woman’s phone, police advised him to return, and when he didn’t, they signed charges.
Two women flagged down officers on Sourek Road April 30 for a man who had passed out behind the steering wheel of a vehicle. Police removed the man from the vehicle and one of the women helped provide CPR until EMS arrived and transported him to the hospital. Officers notified police in Akron, where the incident occurred.
Employees of a North Cleveland-Massillon Road gas station reported May 1 a man was loitering and bothering customers. He was released to the Akron Police Department on a warrant.

COPLEY: Following a traffic stop on Ridgewood Road April 23, a woman was arrested for driving under suspension and taken to the Barberton City Jail on a warrant.
The manager of a Montrose West Avenue hotel reported April 23 a guest who had been evicted was still on the property. Police stood by while the man moved his belongings to a nearby motel and advised him not to return or he would face charges. Later that day, he surfaced at another area hotel, where employees stated the man entered, took keys from behind the desk and went into a room. When police knocked on the door, no one answered, but officers found him hiding in the bathroom. He was charged with theft, trespassing and obstruction of official business, and took him to the Barberton City Jail.
Also on April 23, police investigated a report by a motorist on Schocalog Road, who stated a middle-aged white man with a shaved head accompanied by a small child stepped into the roadway and broke the side mirror of his vehicle.
Police patrolling Springside Drive April 23 saw two people taking items from a collection bin outside an agency and stopped them for questioning. One man fled on foot and was apprehended with suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in his bag. He stated he was dehydrated, and EMS examined and released him. He also said he had a mental health issue, so police signed an emergency psychiatric admission form and he was taken to a facility, with charges pending completion of an investigation.
Officers at the intersection of Ridgewood and Miller roads April 24 spotted a stolen vehicle and attempted to stop it, but the driver continued on before being eventually stopped. The male was charged with failure to comply with police orders, receiving stolen property and traffic violations and taken to the Summit County Juvenile Detention Center.
The driver of a construction vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation on Medina Road April 25. He exhibited signs of intoxication and refused field sobriety and BAC tests. He was charged with DUI and BAC refusal and the vehicle was towed.
At 3 a.m. April 25, police responded to a vehicle in a ditch in the area of South Cleveland-Massillon and Minor roads and charged the driver with DUI after he failed a field sobriety test and his BAC tested .176.
A driver stopped for a traffic violation on Medina Road April 26 was questioned about the odor of marijuana in the vehicle. He was charged with improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle after police recovered marijuana and a loaded handgun from the vehicle.
A woman reported her vehicle was stolen while she was at a Montrose West Avenue motel April 26. Police spotted it on Interstate 77 and stopped the driver. He told police he was staying in the woman’s room and he regularly uses the vehicle with her permission. Neither he nor the vehicle owner had a valid driver’s license. She declined theft charges and the man was released to Stark County sheriff’s deputies on a warrant.
Police stopped a driver for speeding on state Route 21 April 26 and charged her with DUI after she failed a field sobriety test and her BAC tested .102.
An employee of a Heritage Center Drive facility reported April 27 someone drove a vehicle along the sidewalk and struck a light pole.
A Copley Road business owner stated she arrived at work April 27 to find two front windows had been broken and a hatchet that did not belong to her was lying inside the business.
Following a traffic stop on I-77 April 28, police charged the driver with felony drug possession and receiving stolen property and took him to the Barberton City Jail after they recovered methamphetamine and items reported stolen from Akron in the vehicle.
Police responded to noise complaints on two occasions April 28 at a Copley Road apartment complex. The second time, a man was charged with disorderly conduct. He agreed to move to another hotel for the night.

FAIRLAWN: A Callis Oval woman was charged with leaving children unattended in a vehicle April 23 after mall security officers advised police about two children left alone in a vehicle. The woman arrived, and a man came to the scene later. Police were called back to the lot an hour later, when the man and woman began fighting. The man and children left in the vehicle and the woman said she would get a ride home.
Employees of a Medina Road store reported April 24 a man switched price tags on an item, causing a $35 loss to the store. The Graybill Road man was charged with theft.
Police charged a Susan Court woman with theft April 24 after she failed to scan items at the self-checkout register of a West Market Street store.
Also on April 24, loss prevention agents at a West Market Street store reported two women under-rang items at the self-checkout register. Police charged a Sutherland Avenue woman and a Canton woman with theft of merchandise worth $225.
A Triplett Boulevard woman who concealed items in her purse and left a Medina Road store without paying April 25 was charged with theft of $138 in merchandise.
Police arrested a Longview Avenue woman for theft April 28 after she concealed items and left a West Market Street store without paying for them.

NORTON: Following a traffic stop on 31st Street April 19, police arrested a woman for driving under suspension and confiscated a small amount of marijuana.
On April 22, police investigated the burglary of a South Cleveland-Massillon Road residence after a man reported he left his apartment at noon and returned at 5:43 p.m. to find the front door standing open. Police found several rooms had been ransacked and living room furniture had been flipped over, and the victim reported $3,000 cash and a safe containing a 1986 Barberton class ring, a gold wedding band with diamond chips and a Masonic ring had been stolen.
Police patrolling Norton Avenue April 23 saw a pit bull attack a man near Long Drive and used an air horn to scare the dog, which ran off. The victim was transported to a hospital by EMS and a Parks Drive woman was charged with failure to control her dog.
A driver wanted on felony drug warrants was stopped on South Hametown Road April 23 and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
On April 23, the owner of a South Cleveland-Massillon Road business that has been vandalized on previous occasions reported someone used a ball bearing to break the front window. On April 24, another window of the business was broken and the man provided the name of someone with whom he had a dispute.
Police responded to a report that a Woodglen Avenue resident who had a gun chased a man and woman out of the house April 23. The parties provided conflicting information, no firearm was located, and the man and woman agreed to return to their homes in Canton.
Officers responded to a report from a woman staying at her mother’s home April 24 stating she feared her ex-boyfriend, who had been stalking her, had found her. Police assisted her in disabling the tracking application on her cellphone and did a cursory examination of her car but didn’t locate a tracking device.
On April 24, police responded to a dispute involving a man and his father at a Clara Avenue home and drove the son, who was intoxicated and attempted to drive, to a friend’s house.
A Hemphill Road man reported April 26 he received a call from a man who claimed to be from the Social Security Administration telling him his identity had been used to commit a crime in Texas and succeeded in obtaining personal information. Police advised him to monitor his credit and financial information and report any unauthorized use of his identity.
A Norton Avenue woman reported April 26 a man attempted to get into her house and used his hand to smash a window. He left before police arrived and posted a photo of his bloody hand on a social media website. Police determined the victim held a protection order against him and signed warrants for his arrest for criminal damaging and violation of a protection order.
Firefighters from several communities assisted Norton firefighters in extinguishing a fire at a Wadsworth Road home April 27 at 5 a.m. Later that day, police were called to the residence after investigators stated two people were at the scene hampering their investigation. Police found a cat inside in a metal cage and advised one man to take it to a veterinarian, which he did. The residence was boarded, a notice was placed on the outside prohibiting anyone from entering and the owner gave the key to the assistant fire chief.
An Oakcrest Drive woman showed police a threatening message her ex-husband sent to her residence April 29 indicating a violent act would take place. Police spoke to prosecutors, who authorized charges for domestic violence and menacing, and police signed warrants for his arrest. The victim also signed a motion for a temporary protection order.

PENINSULA/BOSTON TOWNSHIP: On April 1, a Boston Township resident reported she argued with her boyfriend and he allegedly threatened her. The woman said she ran to the bedroom of co-residents, but her boyfriend continued to confront her. The boyfriend left, but then returned through an unlocked window. The woman said her boyfriend had removed an ignition key for a vehicle entrusted to her and $100 from her coat. Peninsula Police later talked to the boyfriend, who said he did not make any threats and the $100 was his. The man, who returned the ignition key, said he was making arrangements to leave the area by bus.
On April 2, a Peninsula officer was dispatched to a Main Street business for a report of telecommunications harassment. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with a manager, who said the business had received multiple calls a day since last October from a man asking for information and then moaning before hanging up. The man would call from different numbers. An officer attempted to call the last one used, but no one answered. Statements were obtained from two employees and the case was handed over to a detective.
Officers were dispatched to an Akron-Cleveland Road motel April 2 for a report of found property. Guests had reportedly discovered a plastic storage container with multiple cases of ammunition inside, as well as a black crossbow behind a door leading into the bathroom. The previous occupant of the room was listed as a California resident who had stayed in the room for approximately four weeks. The hotel had no contact information for the man. The items were secured for evidence.
On April 4, an officer on the west side of Riverview Road reportedly observed a vehicle traveling 51 mph in a 35-mph speed zone and conducted a traffic stop. The driver produced a canceled temporary driving permit and failed to show proof of insurance. She was issued a citation for speed and the lack of an operator’s license, and the vehicle was towed.
A man reported April 15 someone filed for a credit card using his name and also filed for unemployment insurance under his name.
On April 18, an officer responded to a Boston Mills Road residence for a report of two missing checkbooks. The resident, who lives alone, explained she initially thought she had misplaced her checkbook but later concluded it had been stolen. The officer walked through the residence and was unable to find any signs of forced entry.
On April 22, an officer spoke with a Peninsula resident who said she recently received a letter stating she had opened a checking account with her bank. The woman called the number on the letter for the bank and was told she needed to file a police report.
A Riverview Road woman reported April 28 an AirLine microphone wireless ear set system was taken from her unlocked vehicle while it was parked in her driveway sometime between April 27 at 7:30 p.m. and April 28 at 7 p.m.

RICHFIELD: Police patrolling Wheatley Road April 19 observed a vehicle outside an abandoned house, heard someone using power tools and found a man behind the house. He was taken into custody, identified and advised that police would contact him regarding trespassing charges the following day.
A motorist on state Route 303 reported April 19 a vehicle behind him might have damaged a bicycle that he was carrying on the rear of his vehicle. When he stopped and exited his vehicle, the other driver opened his vehicle trunk and brandished a handgun, so he drove away. Police searched for the vehicle.
The morning of April 20, police responded to Boston Mills Road, where a vehicle ran over a tree and was stuck on top of it. The driver failed a field sobriety test, refused a BAC test and was charged with DUI.
On April 21, the owner of an Interstate Parkway business gave police a copy of an email he received from a man who said he was coming to Richfield to exercise his First Amendment rights.
The manager of a Brecksville Road business asked police to document a report that an abandoned tractor-trailer was towed from the property April 21.
A Brush Road woman reported April 21 a suspicious man obtained a birth certificate and driver’s license from her disabled father and took him to his bank in an attempt to change her father’s guardianship. She believed the man was attempting to gain access to her father’s funds, and a banker stated the man had been in the bank with the victim and had been asked to leave due to suspicious behavior, but the victim still wanted to make the change. The woman regained guardianship and control of her father’s account and asked police to investigate.
A woman reported April 23 she is building a house on land between Columbia and Boston Mills roads, and the land is part of three parcels that use a common driveway, but the other residents who use the driveway have been attempting to prevent her workers from accessing her property via the driveway. She asked that the matter be documented.
On April 25, police responded to a report that a man was walking along the left northbound lane of Interstate 77, located him and advised him of the danger. He agreed to be transported to a gas station, where he stated he was riding with a woman who drove off and left him at a highway rest area and stated he wanted to get his bag from her. He was uncooperative regarding why she drove away, and police advised him they would attempt to locate her and get his property.
Following transport of an infant to a hospital April 25, police received information from a case worker that the baby had ingested marijuana and would remain in the hospital until the following day.

 

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