Police Blotter: Homeless Man Moves Into Library for the Night

Police were called to the about 6:30 a.m. Jan. 5 after a man was found sleeping in the vestibule.

The man admitted he had gone into the library to sleep, locking the outside door -- which is usually left open -- so no one else could come in.

He had very little food or drink with him and told officers he is homeless and had nowhere to go. He said he was trying to figure out a better solution to his problem.

Mischief on The Bluffs

Someone rang a doorbell on The Bluffs about 2:30 a.m. Jan. 3. 

Police found no footprints in the snow and nothing disturbed. 

The resident called back in the morning, though, to say he had found two zip ties on his doormat. He speculates the mischief-makers had planned to tie the double doorknobs together so no one could open the doors, but found they were too short to do the job and dropped them instead.

Child Endangering

Someone at spotted a 1-year-old boy left unattended in a car about 6:45 p.m. Jan. 2.

The boy was crying and the car had no license plates, a report said.

Police stopped the car at Sprague and Pearl roads and determined the woman driving the car was wanted for failing to appear in court and had a suspended license.

The child was released to his father, who lives in North Olmsted. Police are investigating the incident further.

Chopper Problem

A disturbance at the helicopter kiosk brought police to Jan. 4.

A man there was not happy with his purchase, but police told him it was a civil matter than needed to be handled in small claims court.

One Scam, To Go

Someone placed a very large order with , 14300 Pearl Rd., Jan. 4 and tried to pay for it with a stolen credit card, a report said.

Suspicious Situation

A police officer on patrol just before midnight Jan. 2 noticed an open garage door on Homestead Park, with a car inside with its door also open.

The officer saw there were two child seats in the car and believes the mom just forgot to close the door when she got the kids out. 

Nothing appeared to be rifled through, so the officer secured the door.

Dog Days of Winter

A passerby reported seeing a dog locked in a car outside Chestnut Lakes Apartments on Whitney Road about 12:30 a.m. Jan. 4 and was concerned because the windows weren't cracked for air and it was cold outside.

Police called the owner of the vehicle to say the dog couldn't be left in the car, and said they would check on the dog periodically.

The owner called back about 1:15 a.m., though, to say he had only been in the apartment a short time and would never do anything to harm his dog.