MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio
Drunk driving: Bagley Road
Police at 4:19 a.m. Nov. 21 went to Paramount Senior Living on a report of an unconscious man in a pickup truck that was running in the parking lot. The staff was unable to wake the man.
The truck was parked in the middle of the lot. The driver was slumped over the steering wheel and the truck’s doors were locked.
The officer believed the man was possibly overdosing on a narcotic. The man suddenly became awake as the officer used tools to unlock the door. The suspect then lowered the window. The officer smelled alcohol.
The driver, who showed his license, looked drunk. When asked what he was doing parked and sleeping in the lot, the man answered several times, “I was letting the bowl out.”
He seemed extremely confused. He said he had “a bowl, so probably three or four” when asked if he had had anything to drink. He failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for drunken driving.
A glass jar containing alcohol was found in the truck, which was towed.
His chemical breath test registered .213 -- almost three times over the legal limit. He was also cited for open container.
Concealed weapon: Bagley Road
An officer at 11:37 p.m. Nov. 27 checked on a car that had a poorly lighted license plate. He learned that the car’s registration had expired and was not registered to any specific vehicle.
He stopped the car near Mr. Tire. There were four people in the car. He told the driver the reason for the stop. She said she was coming from a funeral and had just bought the car not too long ago.
She said she did not have a driver’s license at that time. She did give the officer her Ohio ID card.
The officer noted that one of the back-seat passengers pretended to be sleeping. The officer returned to the cruiser while another officer stayed by the passenger-side door. The officer walking back to the cruiser saw the plate better since it was now illuminated by the cruiser’s overhead lights.
He noted the temporary tag’s number. It came back to the driver.
He cited the driver for not wearing a seatbelt, multiple open suspensions and no license plate light.
The other officer walked back to the cruiser and said he believed he saw a gun in the back passenger’s right coat pocket. He called for backup.
They walked to the car to remove the occupants. They helped an elderly woman exit the car first.
They told the passenger suspected of having a gun to put his hands up on the back of the seat. He made several reaching motions into his left pocket after officers told him to keep his hands where they could see them.
The officer moved the front passenger seat forward and grabbed the man’s right arm to help him get out of the car. The man, who was facing the car, then began to turn toward the officer, who then pressed him against the car and handcuffed him.
The officer asked the man what was in his pocket. He said a gun. The officer removed the gun from the pocket and gave it to the other officer.
He asked the man if he was legally allowed to carry the weapon. He responded, “No, sir.” He was a convicted felon.
A check showed that he had been convicted of several felonies, include improperly handling firearms in a car and drug possession.
The handgun contained seven rounds of 9mm ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber.
Police found two cell phones and a user amount of marijuana on the man’s person. A blunt and a scale also were on him.
The driver was told to park the car in the lot and wait for a valid driver.
The passenger was transported to the police station. He began coughing. He said he was not feeling well and wanted to go to the hospital.
EMS arrived and checked him out. He insisted on going to the hospital. He was handcuffed to the gurney and taken to the hospital with officers. He was medically cleared.
He was cited and had an active warrant out of Garfield Heights.
Theft: Rosbough Drive
Police went to the Comfort Inn Nov. 27 to talk with a guest who had items stolen from her room.
The victim said she had left her hotel room at 1:45 p.m. that day and made sure the door closed behind her. She returned at 6:15 p.m. and saw that the door was ajar.
She walked inside and saw her suitcase gone.
The hotel desk staff said there was no way to access the history on the room’s lock and that there are no cameras in that area.
Driving under suspension: Engle Road
An officer was patrolling the Motel 6 parking lot early Nov. 27 when he saw a parked car with a temporary license plate. He noticed that the font on the format was different and learned that the plate had expired on Oct. 4, not Dec. 24 as was written on it.
The car’s registered owner had an active warrant with Cleveland police and a suspended driver’s license.
Later, the officer saw a man enter the car and drive away. He followed it as the car was about to enter the Interstate 71 ramp and made a traffic stop.
The driver said he was aware that his license was suspended, but insisted he had driving privileges.
The officer handcuffed him due to his having an active warrant. He asked the driver about the fictitious temporary tags. The man admitted that he had altered the expiration date because he was unable to get license plates for it.
The car was then towed. Cleveland police removed the warrant, since it was not valid. The suspect was cited and given a courtesy ride back to the motel.
Disorderly conduct: Smith Road
Police at 7:40 p.m. Nov. 22 went to Rival’s Bar and Grille regarding a man and woman who refused to leave. They were both drunk and had been cut off from buying any more alcohol.
That is when they became irate and were asked to leave. The woman remained in the parking lot while the man left. She was sitting on a park bench in the lot near the front door when police arrived.
An officer asked if she needed any help finding a ride off the property. She became upset, then yelled and cursed at him with homophobic slurs.
The officer asked for identification. She eventually told him her name, but would not provide any more details. She continued to yell at police, who said she would be arrested if she did not comply. She was arrested.
The bar manager signed criminal charges against her for trespassing. He also said she is permanently excluded from the establishment.
During the ride to the police station, the suspect refused to give any more information and remained irate.
Another officer said he had had several encounters with the suspect and could identify her. Her personal information was found through past police encounters.
She was cited for disorderly conduct-intoxication, criminal trespassing and obstructing official business.
Theft: Normandie Boulevard
A man went to the police station Nov. 21 and said he had bought two laptops online. FedEx showed that the laptops were delivered Nov. 18, but he never received them. He was told he needed to contact the company to dispute the delivery.
The company told him he needed to file a police report to launch an investigation. The victim said although a signature was needed to sign for the package, he did not sign any papers.
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