Guns, Potted Plants, Identity Theft and Soccer: Westlake Police Blotter

Oops, forgot to mention the gun: A 22-year-old Elyria man was stopped for a traffic violation on July 22 on Columbia Rd. He forgot to mention the 9mm semi-automatic handgun in the center console to the officers. The City Prosecutor will consider an Improper Handling of a Firearm charge.

Dude, where's my car? A 19-year-old Westlake man is doing his best to alienate his family. He took his dad’s car to FL without permission, where it was towed by the local police. After flying back to Westlake with his uncle (on his uncle’s dime), he took $2000 cash from his benefactor’s luggage and ran off.

Potted plant party: Hooligans threw the Porter Library’s potted plants around the public entrance on the night of July 23.

Road rage can be a drag: Road rage on Wakefield Ln. led to the OVI arrest of a 64-year-old Westlake man on July 24. His 44-year-old neighbor confronted him about his driving and was dragged a short distance; the younger man suffered minor scrapes. The older man had a breath test result of .166; the city prosecutor will review possible assault charges as well.

Never trust a junkie: A 72-year-old VA man took in a 37-year-old drifter earlier this year. That kindness was repaid when the mook stole the victim’s 2011 Chevrolet Suburban on July 23. The SUV and a stolen VA license plate turned up in Westlake on July 27; the suspect was asleep in a Clemens Rd. parking lot. He gave false ID info to the officer who was checking on him, and then ran off. He was captured shortly thereafter; he admits to being a heroin addict, which comports with the burnt spoon, hypo, and other dope paraphernalia found in the SUV. He faces 2 counts of RSP, one count of Obstructing Official Business, and one count of Drug Possession.

It wasn't me, it was my brother: A 32-year-old Parma man identified himself as his brother in a failed attempt to escape having a warrant served on him on July 28. The officer uncovered his subterfuge while on an I90 traffic stop. The driver was arrested for DUS, MisID, and Drug Paraphernalia (pot pipe).

Guns and soccer: A July 28 argument in a Center Ridge Rd. bar parking lot over the management of a soccer team led to a 41-year-old Bay Village man producing a 7.62mm semi-automatic handgun from his truck. He quickly thought the better of it and put it away. He did not point it at anyone and the complainant had left when officers arrived. An Aggravated Menacing report was filed.