Domestic Violence, Stalking Removed From Lakewood Nuisance Code

LAKEWOOD, OH — Domestic violence and menacing-by-stalking are no longer nuisances in the city of Lakewood, thanks to an ordinance adopted by Lakewood City Council on Monday.

"It's pretty straightforward: we are removing domestic violence and menacing-by-stalking from the list of nuisance activities in our code. It is my hope that potential victims of domestic violence are undeterred from seeking protection when they need it," Ward 4 Councilman Daniel O'Malley told Patch in an email.

The city's nuisance laws originally had all "offenses against persons listed in Section 537" in the code. That section included domestic violence, menacing-by-stalking, aggravated menacing and menacing. But no more.

The Public Safety Committee held a hearing on the nuisance laws last week, O'Malley said. City Council then voted on July 2 to adopt proposed changes to the law, which mean domestic violence and stalking are now more severe than nuisances.

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To read the changes to the code, click here.

Lakewood Councilmember-at-Large Tristan Rader took to social media to celebrate the chance in nuisance code.

Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch