Friday, May 17, 2013
Pair released to sober friend.
A 34-year-old North Olmsted man could have used better judgment May 11 when he went to bail out a friend who had been arrested for operating under the influence earlier that morning. The man arrived at the police station just after 4 a.m. Westlake police found him to be under the influence and he was arrested for drunk driving as well. Police subsequently determined that he had been drinking with the woman before her arrest. He had also been using medicine prescribed to him. Both were later released to a sober friend. Also in the blotters: A Pennsylvania man visiting this area had his 1999 Acura Integra stolen from a Westford Circle residence on the night of May 6. It was recovered in Cleveland the next day completely stripped. There are …
Monday, December 31, 2012
What police and crime stories were you reading and talking about this year?
2012 was a year for some rather unique, and in some cases disturbing, crime stories in Westlake. There was the high-profile Regal Cinema weapons case of Scott A. Smith, but stories about DUIs and "Cleaning Fairies" also got people reading. What police and crime stories caught your attention? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Your best bet? Don't drink or have a designated driver.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
DUI arrests are on the increase in Westlake. If you insist on driving after a few drinks, here's what you should know about how alcohol affects your system and your criminal record.
Do you know how many drinks you can have before you're in danger of getting a drunken driving violation? Drunk-driving arrests are rising in Westlake. Westlake Police have made 201 DUI arrests through Oct. 31, according for figures released by the department on Tuesday. That's up from 187 in all of 2011, with November and December still to be counted. Westlake resident Jennifer Kearney was sentenced to three years in prison in November for a 2011 drunk-driving crash where she was driving the wrong way on I-90 in Cleveland and killed motorcyclist Kenneth Stith. As we head into the holiday season, Patch wants you to know when enough is enough. When police pull drivers over for suspected drunken driving, officers ask them to perform field …
Friday, November 30, 2012
The following information was provided by the Westlake Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
You'd think five DUI convictions would get the "Don't drink and drive" lesson soaked in, but some people just don't learn. Matthew Messer, 33, of Sheffield Lake, was pulled over for weaving on Second Street around 3:01 a.m. on Nov. 22. Westlake Police reported that Messer refused a breath test. He was arrested for felony DUI, and is also facing charges for refusing to test with a prior conviction, weaving and driving under suspension. Messer was still in Cuyahoga County jail on Wednesday. Bond is set at $20,000.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Kearney drove drunk and killed motorcyclist Kenneth Stith in the 2011 crash. Is the sentence fair?
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Westlake resident Kearney killed motorcyclist Kenneth Stith in 2011 crash on I-90 in Cleveland
Jennifer Kearney of Westlake was sentenced to three years in prison for hitting and killing a motorcyclist while driving drunk, and driving the wrong way, on Interstate 90 in Cleveland. Kearney, 29, was also fined $1,000, according to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office. Kearney pleaded guilty Oct. 17 to aggravated vehicular homicide and driving under the influnce in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. Motorcyclist Kenneth Stith, 54, of Akron was struck by Kearney around 1:30 a.m. on July 1, 2011. Stith, who was not wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Kenneth Stith of Akron was struck and killed by Kearney in a wrong-way DUI crash on Interstate 90 in 2011
Jennifer Kearney of Westlake pleaded guilty Wednesday to aggravated vehicular homicide and driving under the influence in connection with driving the wrong way on Interstate 90 in Cleveland and killing a motorcyclist in 2011. Kearney, 29, entered her plea in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. According to the Plain Dealer, Kearney apologized to the family of Kenneth Stith, 54, of Akron, who was struck by Kearney around 1:30 a.m. on July 1, 2011. Stith, who was not wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene. Kearney is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 20. She faces between two and eight years in prison.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The following arrest information was provided by the Westlake Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
A Westlake man is facing DUI and other charges after causing two crashes within seconds of each other. Lee Hoffman, 30, is accused of rear-ending a 1999 Toyota with his 2007 GMC pickup truck on Canterbury Road at Center Ridge Road around 11:32 p.m. on Sept. 21. He fled, but didn't get far, crashing into a telephone pole 70 feet away on Center Ridge Road. Hoffman got out of the car and ran away, and was found by Westlake Police hiding behind a nearby business. Hoffman was taken to St. John Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries. He was charged with DUI, failure to assure clear distance, failure to wear a seat belt, failure to control, hit-skip and open container (a bottle of Jack Daniels).
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The following arrest information was provided by the Westlake Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
A Westlake man is facing several charges after a DUI incident and meltdown at St. John Medical Center that ended with a nurse being bitten and assaulted. Westlake Police were called after Christopher Warner, 22, reportedly struck the wall of a Center Ridge Road bar around 1:21 a.m. on Sept. 14. He was found at his home a while later and was arrested on DUI and hit-skip charges. While being arrested, Warren struggled with officers and threatened to rape their female relatives. Then he passed out. After Warner came to, he was treated at St. John Medical Center, where he bit a nurse and broke her finger. He went on to threaten to rape the medical staff's female relatives, as well as kill and/or eat all of their relatives. After ripping the IV…
Mandy H.
10:46 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
I knew the man she killed. That is absolutely horrible. He left behind a family and she only has to serve 3 yrs!!!??? more ›