Man Was Carjacked in Westlake, Fought Back and Escaped

A North Olmsted man was driving to work through Westlake Friday morning when a stranger jumped into his car and forced him to drive.

According to Cpt. Guy Turner, the man, whom police have identified as 54-year-old Westlake resident John Julius, reportedly jumped in front of the man’s car at 5:16 a.m. on Detroit Road near Settlers Reserve Way. When the driver stopped, the man got into the passenger seat, hit the driver in the face repeatedly and then forced him to drive around. He told the driver that he was the Lord, and that people were after him.

The North Olmsted man was able to throw the hijacker out of the car and called Westlake Police. He did not need medical treatment, according to police reports.

Officers got another call from a woman on Dover Center Road at 5:23 a.m. who said she just saw a man fitting Julius’s description trying to get into a van near Basset Road. Callers also told police that they saw someone trying to get into a white van going north on Dover Center Road.

Then, at 6:50 a.m., a resident reported seeing the man on the porch of a home on Center Ridge Road near Forest Parkway, but the residents sent the man on his way.

According to Turner, police finally caught up with Julius when they saw him riding a bicycle on Dover Center Road at 8:29 a.m. Friday. Julius ditched the bike and police chased him through backyards into the Village in the Park apartments on Detroit Road. Officers arrested the man, and after he gave a fake name, police identified him. 

Officers later found out that the bicycle had been stolen from a student at Westlake High School. Police returned it to the student.

Julius was taken Westlake City Jail and faces charges of abduction, attempted abduction and receiving stolen property. According to police, he will be transferred to Cuyahoga County Jail later.

Julius has been convicted of minor traffic charges in the past.

Turner said police are asking that any possible owners of the white van that was approached on Dover Center Road contact the Westlake Police Department at 440-871-3311.