Monday, January 14, 2013
Scott A. Smith was scheduled to go on trial Monday
The trial of Scott A. Smith -- accused of bringing in a loaded gun, ammunition and knives to a showing of The Dark Knight Rises at Regal Cinema -- has been postponed until February. Smith's trial was scheduled to start Monday, Jan. 16. But, at last week's pretrial hearing, Judge Kathleen Ann Sutula granted defense attorney Jack Hildebrand's request for a continuance. The new trial date is Feb. 11. Smith, of North Ridgeville, is facing two charges of carrying concealed weapons, and a charge of weapons under disability after his arrest on August 4. He was released from jail in late August on $250,000 bond.
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.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Scott A. Smith of North Ridgeville goes on trial in January
In July, a gunman opened fire in an Aurora, Colo., movie theatre during a showing of the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises. In August, the fear came home to Westlake. Jeremiah Bullins, an off-duty Westlake Police officer working security at Regal Cinema in Crocker Park on Aug. 4, was suspicious of a man he saw entering the theatre wearing what was described as looking like a fanny pack. And what happened next -- the Dark Knight weapons case -- was the fourth most popular story on Westlake Patch in 2012. After an employee asked the man to open the bag and saw nothing, Bullins followed the man, Scott A. Smith of North Ridgeville, into the theatre where a 10 p.m. showing of The Dark Knight Rises was scheduled. Smith was the only …
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Scott A. Smith accused of bringing gun, knives into August screening of Batman movie at Regal Cinema
The trial of Scott A. Smith, accused of bringing weapons into an August showing of The Dark Knight Rises at Regal Cinema, was scheduled to begin Monday but has been postponed until next month. A continuance was granted in Cuyahoga Court of Common Pleas last week, as the discovery phase of the case is continuing. The new trial date is Jan. 16, 2013. Smith is charged with a fourth-degree felony carrying concealed weapons (for the gun found on him), a misdemeanor carrying concealed weapon (for the four knives found on him) and a third-degree felony for having weapons under disability (for the gun on him as well as ones taken from his home). He is currently free on $250,000 bond. Smith's attorney, Jack Hildebrand, filed a motion to suppress …
Monday, November 19, 2012
The following information was provided by the Westlake Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
Just a few weeks before Scott A. Smith is scheduled to go on trial for bringing weapons into a showing of The Dark Night Rises, someone else got in trouble for bringing a knife into a theater there, as well as causing other kinds of problems. A 35-year-old man from Willoughby was drunk, and lying and sitting on the floor in one of the theatres at Regal Cinema around 8:15 p.m. on Nov. 4. An off-duty Westlake Police officer working security led the man out of the building. Once outside, the man lunged at the officer, who pinned him until backup arrived. The man was found to be carrying a spring-operated knife. The man is being charged with disorderly conduct by intoxication, resisting arrest and carrying various weapons. Considering the …
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Here's a look at the top stories this past week
Westlake City Council approved plans for Our Lady of the Wayside to operate an adult day care center for people with developmental disabilities. The facility will be in the rear of what has been known as the King James II building at 24650 Center Ridge Road. Scott A. Smith, the North Ridgeville resident accused of bringing knives along with ammunition and a gun to a late-night showing of The Dark Knight Rises at Regal Cinema in Crocker Park in August, will stand trial on weapons charges in December. Bassett and Hilliard Elementary Schools were two of only 13 schools in the state of Ohio to be named National Blue Ribbon Schools. The Planning Commission approved preliminary plans for Hyland Software to build a three-story, 112,000 square …
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Scott A. Smith's trial is set for Dec. 10
Scott A. Smith, the North Ridgeville man accused of bringing a gun, ammunition and knives into a late-night showing of The Dark Knight Rises at Regal Cinema in Crocker Park, has a trial date. Smith was given a tentative trial date of Dec. 10 in a pre-trial hearing on Monday at the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, said Maria Russo of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office. He has another pre-trial hearing on Oct. 23. Smith was arrested Aug. 4 after a Westlake Police officer working security at Regal Cinema in Crocker Park searched Smith's bag and found a loaded gun, three knives and ammunition. A fourth knife was found on Smith. Smith is charged with fourth-degree felony carrying concealed weapons (for the gun found on him), a …
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Pre-trial events continue for Scott A. Smith
Scott A. Smith, the North Ridgeville man facing weapons charges after allegedly bringing a gun, knives and ammunition to a late-night showing of The Dark Knight Rises at Regal Cinema in August, is due back in court next week. A pre-trial hearing is set for 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. Maria Russo, public information officer for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, said that Monday's hearing will allow prosecutors and Smith's attorney to exchange discovery evidence. Russo added there will likely be a few more pre-trial hearings before Smith goes to trial. Smith was arrested Aug. 4 after a Westlake Police officer working security at Regal Cinema in Crocker Park searched Smith's bag and found a …
Monday, August 27, 2012
Scott A. Smith charged with bringing weapons to showing of 'Dark Knight Rises'
Scott A. Smith, the North Ridgeville man charged with bringing a bag full of weapons to the Regal Cinema at Crocker Park showing of The Dark Knight Rises, posted bail last week. Also, he was referred to a psychological clinic and was at a pretrial hearing. Smith, who does not have a concealed-carry permit, was indicted Aug. 13 on three charges: a fourth-degree felony carrying concealed weapons (for the gun found on him), a misdemeanor carrying concealed weapons (for the four knives found on him) and a third-degree felony for having weapons under disability (for the gun on him as well as the ones taken from his home). Attorney Matthew Bruce said that he is no longer representing Smith. Nicole DiSanto of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's …
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Smith indicted Monday on charges related to bringing gun, knives, ammunition into late-night showing of 'The Dark Knight Rises' at Regal Cinema in Crocker Park
Tuesday's scheduled preliminary hearing for Scott A. Smith was cancelled following his indictment Monday on weapons charges for being arrested with a loaded gun, ammunition and four knives at an Aug. 4 showing of The Dark Knight Rises at Regal Cinema in Crocker Park. Nicole DiSanto of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office said Monday that the preliminary hearing, where a judge would decide if the case was to proceed, was no longer necessary now that an indictment has been issued. Smith's next court appearance is his arraignment, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 27. He remains in jail on $250,000 bond. Smith, who does not have a concealed-carry permit, was indicted Monday on three charges: a fourth-degree felony carrying concealed weapons…
Rebecca Salamon
9:19 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
Dear Mayor Clough: I think all of our police officers deserve a raise! Sincerely, Becky more ›