'Dark Knight' Weapons Case: #4 Top Story of 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 …

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'Dark Knight' Weapons Trial Postponed Until January

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 …

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'Dark Knight' Weapons Suspect Going to Trial

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 …

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'Dark Knight' Weapons Suspect Has Court Date

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 …

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Scott A. Smith to Face Three Weapons Charges

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…

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Scott A. Smith Indicted on Weapons Charges

Smith facing charges related to bringing gun, knives, ammunition into late-night showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" at Regal Cinema in Crocker Park

Updated 5:28 p.m. Scott A. Smith was indicted on weapons charges Monday after 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. The current charges listed at the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas docket are 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 the ones taken from his home). The prosecution is basing the weapons under disability charge on the claim that Smith has some kind of substance abuse issue. Smith has been in jail -- first in Westlake, …

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Preliminary Hearing Set for Regal Cinema Weapons Suspect

Scott A. Smith will be in court Tuesday on 21 charges related to bringing gun, knives, ammunition into late-night showing of "The Dark Knight Rises" at Regal Cinema in Crocker Park

Scott A. Smith, the North Ridgeville man facing charges after 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, is set to be in court again on Tuesday. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. A preliminary hearing is when a judge decides whether probable cause has been established for the case to proceed. Smith has been in jail -- first in Westlake and since Tuesday at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center in downtown Cleveland -- since his arrest after off-duty Westlake police officer Jeremiah Bullins searched a bag Smith had brought into the theater and discovered the weapons. …

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Regal Cinema Suspect Faces $250K Bond

Scott A. Smith faces 21 charges related to allegedly bringing loaded gun, ammunition and four knives into theater showing "The Dark Knight Rises."

$250,000 Bond For Regal Cinema Weapons Suspect

Scott A. Smith faces 21 charges related to allegedly bringing loaded gun, ammunition and knives into theater showing "The Dark Knight Rises."

Updated 5:12 p.m. Bond was set at $250,000 Thursday afternoon for Scott A. Smith, who was arrested Saturday after allegedly bringing a loaded gun, ammunition and four knives to a late-night showing of The Dark Knight Rises at Regal Cinema in Crocker Park. Smith is facing 21 charges: 19 third-degree felony charges for having weapons under disability, one misdemeanor concealed carry violation for the four knives, and one fourth-degree felony concealed carry violation for the loaded gun. His next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 14. He could be in court sooner if an indictment is handed down. Smith's attorney, Matthew Bruce, had asked Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas judge Robert C. McClelland to release Smith on his own recognizance, …

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