Mentor K-9 Titan Nabs Man Who Ran From Police

A man who was wanted by Mentor Police tried to run away from officers on Wednesday, but succumbed after feeling the department K-9's teeth in his chest.

"We ordered him to stop, but he didn't," Lt. Tim Allen said. "Titan was sent after him and bit him right on the chest. He gave up as soon as that happened.

"Another bite for Titan."

Police had already planned to visit Douglas Lewis Jr. to serve a warrant for failure to appear in Mentor Municipal Court on charges of drug abuse and driving under suspension. The need to see him increased when one of his neighbors on Glen Lodge Road wrote the police department a letter stating that the five children who live with Lewis appeared to be neglected and often unsupervised.

The letter cited "very specific" examples, Allen said, including the children, ages 2 to 12, being outside for long stretches with barely any clothes on in cold weather. Allen added that the home was in poor condition was a broken furnace and trash all over the yard.

The letter went on to tell police that if they came after Lewis, he would likely climb out of a window.

"Sure enough, he climbed out of a window and ran," Allen said.

Lewis was arrested for failing to appear in court and obstructing police business.

Allen said the children, four of whom Lewis fathered, were relocated with a relative overnight by the Lake County Department of Job and Family Services. Police might also seek child endangerment charges for Lewis.