Cleveland, OH
Cleveland officer, ex-DEA agent suspected of unlawfully detaining man at bar they call ‘illegal’
MEDINA COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – A Cleveland Police officer and a former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officer are under investigation after police reports say they unlawfully detained a man they called “illegal” in a Medina County bar.
According to a Brunswick Police report, Brunswick Police were on the scene first on April 26 around 11:50 p.m.
The two officers were at Buzzards Roost in Hinckley Township drinking when they got into an argument with the victim.
“I’m not gonna be the guy on the news like, oh you’re on a f****ing security cam this guy ends up blowing the f***ing mall up tomorrow f**k no, don’t care,” one of the involved officers said in a Brunswick police body camera video. “Don’t care who I offend dude.”
Body-camera footage shows the one officer pinning the victim to the ground when Brunswick Police arrived on scene.
“This guy’s not from this country,” the Cleveland police officer told the responding officer. “So we started fighting with him or whatever so here we are he’s holding him down.”
“Well regardless of if he’s from this country or not what happened?” the Brunswick officer asked.
“He’s not from this country,” the CPD officer responded.
Brunswick Police say the two officers detained a man they claim was in the country illegally.
The victim was a 38-year-old from Texas who had a valid Texas ID.
The victim told police the officers took his phone and ID and again pleaded with them about his citizenship.
“They’re drunk and this guy came up to them and started saying some stuff and they’re like oh this guys a terrorist we can’t let him go,” one of the responding officers told another Brunswick officer.
“That’s what I mean,” another Brunswick officer responded. “Does that sound sane to you?”
The Cleveland police officer who participated in the incident was also on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) taskforce at the time.
“Why they pushing me like this?” the Texas man said to police. “Why they try to break my hand? I’m trying to call police all my stuff they take it out from my pocket.”
The 38-year-old man told officers that he was a truck driver who was making a delivery at Aldi, which is right across from the bar. The Texas man said he didn’t have to make the delivery until Monday so he stopped at the bar for a beer.
Police also questioned the bartender.
“They were really being aggressive with him,” the bartender told police. “They really were. When he was sitting here they were trying to snatch his phone. They were turning his arm.”
The man told police he was a refugee from Ethiopia who had been in the United States for 14 years. Officers said he had a valid commercial driver’s license.
“Essentially these guys were over here drunk trying to detain somebody for no reason,” an officer said to another officer.
Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd sent out a release Friday saying the incident was under investigation.
The Cleveland officer is no longer affiliated with the ATF.
The second officer involved in the incident is currently a “special deputy” with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, according to state records.
19 News has reached out to Lake County Sheriff to see if the officer is also under investigation. We have not yet heard back.
19 News also reached out to the DEA, who said the second officer is no longer a part of their agency.
According to a Hinckley Police report, the Medina County Prosecutor’s Office is considering felony abduction charges for both officers. 19 News reached out to the prosecutor’s office but has not heard back yet.
According to Cleveland Police, the FBI is also investigating.
Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Yankees Tabbed Best Fit in Trade for Guardians Outfielder
The Cleveland Guardians have already traded away one of their starters from this past season, sending second baseman Andres Gimenez to the Toronto Blue Jays.
And there appears to be a chance that they make some more moves.
The Guardians are apparently fielding trade offers on first baseman Josh Naylor and outfielder Lane Thomas, and while Naylor is certainly the bigger of the two names, Thomas is also a very interesting piece.
But where could Thomas land?
Well, Caleb Moody of Just Baseball has compiled a short list of the best possible fits for Thomas, and the New York Yankees were among those ballclubs.
“If Thomas can find some of his 2023 form next season, he could provide that middle-of-the-order support for Aaron Judge, with his 20+ homer, .250 AVG and .750 OPS potential to place alongside Jazz Chisholm Jr., Giancarlo Stanton and Austin Wells,” Moody wrote.
The Yankees just lost Juan Soto to the New York Mets, so they could certainly use a fourth outfielder alongside of Judge, Jasson Dominguez and the newly-acquired Cody Bellinger.
While Teoscar Hernandez and Anthony Santander are definitely sexier names, New York would have to shell out wads of cash for either player, and the Yankees may not want to do that after signing Max Fried and swinging a trade for Bellinger.
Plus, New York may want to add another big piece at one of its corner infield spots.
Thomas is set to hit free agency after next season, so the Yanks would have no financial obligation to him beyond 2025. Plus, he is slated to earn just $7.9 million next year.
The 29-year-old slashed .237/.309/.400 with 15 home runs and 63 RBI over 528 plate appearances between the Washington Nationals and the Guardians in 2024, but he came on particularly strong late in the season and in the playoffs.
Landing Thomas would also allow the Yankees the flexibility to play Bellinger at first base on occasion.
Cleveland, OH
Ohio troopers identify driver in deadly semi truck hit-skip as Cleveland man
Editor’s Note: This story contains previous video from 19 News.
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – The Ohio State Highway Patrol says troopers have identified the driver of a semi-truck suspected in a deadly hit-skip in Tuscarawas County.
The driver is a 59-year-old Cleveland man whose name was not released. The highway patrol said the case is now with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the highway patrol, on Oct. 24 a semi-truck was driving north on IR-77 when he tried to make a U-turn through the median crossover near Strasburg.
Troopers said a second vehicle, driven by 78-year-old Dennis Alsept, was also driving north in the left lane of IR-77.
RELATED STORY: Troopers looking for semi driver suspect in fatal hit-skip of Tuscarawas County 78-year-old
Alsept then hit the semi, according to the highway patrol.
“He was a great man, he loved his family,” Alsept’s son-in-law, Andy Donaldson, said. “His family was his everything.”
Troopers said that the semi pulled onto the beam in the median and then continued going south on IR-77.
According to the highway patrol, Alsept was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
On Oct. 31, he died from those injuries.
“Accidents happen, however, he made a tragic mistake that day,” Donaldson said.
The crash remains under investigation, and the highway patrol said charges against the driver are forthcoming.
Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
Man shot on Cleveland’s west side, police say
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland Police is investigating a shooting that occurred on the city’s west side Thursday morning.
Cleveland Police told 19 News that a man was shot near West 110th Street and Bernard Avenue.
The man, police said he approximately 38-years-old, was transported to the hospital.
Cleveland Police are investigating this incident and will deliver updates as they become available.
This is a developing story. Be sure to check back with 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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