Westlake Police Officer Attacked By Wheelchair-Bound Man

WESTLAKE, OH — A North Olmsted man did not feel police were trying to help him by asking him to move out of a travel lane and onto a sidewalk during a dark, rainy night. So angered was the man by this request, that he rammed officers with his wheelchair in response. Read on for more information on that incident and others from the past week.

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Motor Vehicle Theft, June 30 - A minivan stolen from a Bay Village resident was located on Honeylocust Lane on June 30. The keys to the van were found in a nearby driveway and the owner of the vehicle was asked to pick up the vehicle. At the same time, a 2006 Audi A6 was reported stolen from a nearby Honeylocust Ln. home. The key had been left in the car. The vehicle was later located in Cleveland on July 5.

Fraud, June 30 - A Stonehedge Drive woman discovered that her ATM card had been frozen on June 30. She discovered that her bank had frozen the card due to multiple questionable transaction that occurred three days earlier at location in Bay Village and North Olmsted. The card had been used in purchases totaling $339.

Fraud, June 30 - A Detroit Road man found that his debit card had been used in five fraudulent transactions wroth $138. The transactions took place in California. The card has been cancelled.

Trespassing, July 1 - Police arrested a 36-year-old Akron man for trespassing at a Crocker Road business. The man was also harassing a female patron at the store by reading her cell phone. When officers arrived at the store, the man drove off but was stopped a short distance from the store. He was arrested for trespass and failure to comply, then was taken to St. Vincent Charity Hospital for an involuntary commitment. His family reported that he was not cooperating with their attempts to get him mental health treatment.

Assault on a Police Officer, July 1 - Police spotted a 59-year-old North Olmsted man cruising in a wheelchair down the travel lanes of Crocker Road. The man's wheelchair was unlighted and he was riding alone during a dark and rainy day. A State Highway Patrol sergeant saw the man and asked him to use the sidewalk. Westlake Police also arrived on the scene. The man refused to move to the sidewalk and then rammed his wheelchair into a Westlake Police officer sergeant. He was arrested for assault on a police officer. He failed to appear in court on July 3 and a capias was issued for him.

Fraud, July 1 - Someone attempted to open a credit card account using a West Avalon Drive man's identity and former address.

Theft, July 3 - A 13-year-old Parma girl had $50 stolen from her after she set the money down at a First Street business.

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