Solon Man Claims To Be 'Devil', Attacks Woman With Knife

SOLON, OH - A 38-year-old man reportedly punched a woman in the eye, choked her, and then held a knife to her throat and said he was the "devil" before being arrested by Solon Police. The man also said he wanted to harm any law enforcement officers he came across.

Michael Zalom, 38, of Solon, was charged with Felonious Assault and taken to jail by officers on April 24. The man was staying at the Solon Motel, 32575 Aurora Rd.

A guest at the motel called police, saying someone had held a knife to her throat and punched another guest, before leaving their shared room and saying he was going to harm any police officers he could find. Police found Zalom standing in the open doorway of room 10 at the motel and he was taken into custody without incident.

The victim, a 37-year-old woman from Ashtabula, told police Zalom was a longtime acquaintance and was staying in the room with her and another woman. At about 3 a.m., Zalom came into the room and seemed "out of it." He was talking about how the world was going to end and the woman's children were going to die.

Zalom then jumped onto the woman's bed, straddled her, punched her in the eye, and started choking her. He then brandished a knife, held it to her throat, and said he was the devil.

Zalom then said he wanted to hurt a Parma cop, but would settle for an officer from Solon. Then he went outside and punched a man in the face, the woman said.

While Zalom was outside, the woman locked the motel room door and called police. Solon officers were able to take him into custody without incident.

One of the other occupants of the room, Michelle Amick, 38, of Northfield, had an active arrest warrant from Bedford Heights Police. She was also taken into custody and turned over to the Bedford Heights Police Department.

Photo from Solon Police