shhhhhhhhhhh, juvenile shot...

[Jim O'Bryan]

I was wrong at the start of this post. I have been given corrected information.

We have had 7 overdoses since Thanksgiving, two deaths.

Where are you getting accurate figures for this epidemic? How can someone like me know what is really going on?

I had heard the City officials were hiding our crime rates and drug problem and if that is true, they should all be run out of town. We need to address this issue and quite frankly, I cannot fathom why we would close our full service hospital with these problems so prevalent.

Thank you for the information.

Actually that information came from Fire Chief Scott Gillman.

Heroin, is cheaper than marijuana, despite the death, peoples till see it with a cool factor. It is insane. Fo centuries, strong and weak have climbed on the horse only to be trapped forever. With the new fentanyl they are hundreds even thousands of times stronger than heroin, so the thought goes, if I get fentanyl, and cut it with, ????? I can make a ton of cash. Then they mix it, with the control and oversight as any backyard junkie would apply, and you get killer heroin.

As for the covering up of crime figures by Lakewood City Hall, all City Halls do it, they all have different ways to do it. To be honest, the stat means very little, unless you look at it on a much larger scale, and with many, many reasons why in the figuring. I would say what matters most, Do residents feel safe? is more important than day to day crime reporting. HOWEVER, if there are crimes such as the serial West Side Rapist, burglaries, etc. the city needs to be engaged, and quickly. For the most part Lakewood Police are very quick to put out wanted posters, and asking for help when they need it.

Like it or not, City Hall is also in charge of protecting our home values, and interest in moving here. So every city skews their numbers, so you become the city that doesn't and it looks like terror town!

As I am trying to bring up the entertainment value...



I knew about the shooting Saturday, but also knew they had a person of interest in custody. I was just interested in how long it took the REAL MEDIA where people get their news to put it out there.

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[Lori Allen _]

It works from the bottom up. No other laws are enforced here, why should anything else? The question is: what is Mayor/Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers' motivation for not enforcing laws?

For example, City Hall knows a lawn is two feet tall. It takes three weeks for them to mail a citation. It should take 48 hours, as is the law. Same deal with sidewalks.

Mobs of high school kids riding their bikes the wrong way on Detroit - nothing done.

Mobs of drunks jaywalking across Detroit at night - no police presence, nothing done.

Bars (usually owned by the mayor's friends) blasting music all over the neighborhood - nothing done.

Speeding on side streets - nothing done.

Businesses are apparently exempt from having to keep their buildings graffiti-free.

The mayor's rich folk raking leaves into the street - nothing done.

Minor's curfew laws are not enforced. On more than one occasion, juveniles have been caught at 3 A.M. trying to steal cars. They are given a free ride home (often out of the city) and let go. I am also reminded of another case were juveniles were trying to steal cars on Hird. The police dropped them off at the Cleveland border and let them walk home to East Cleveland. No, that it not a typo. Why does Mayor/Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers appear to not want the police to make any arrests?

All of these laws on the books, but Mayor/Public Safety Director Michael P. Summers appears to not want to enforce them for some reason. What a waste.

[Bridget Conant]

Kaylee must read the Observation Deck posts.

http://www.cleveland.com/crime/index.ss ... short_home

[Katie Steinmuller]

So, the kid who was shot is my neighbor.
It is being investigated by the FBI as a hate crime.
There were certain comments made that led to the FBI getting involved.
I'm really bothered that the city hasn't said anything. And I'm bothered that there hasn't been anything in the news.

[Bridget Conant]

I'm really bothered that the city hasn't said anything. And I'm bothered that there hasn't been anything in the news.

Katie, I'm sorry - no one should have to worry about getting shot or attacked in Lakewood. Glad the young man will be OK physically, although I suspect getting shot has to be rather upsetting mentally.

Another reason we are lucky to have the Observer! These types of crimes do not look good for Lakewood and, like the rapist who we were not warned about even though the mayor knew about it, these incidents are important for residents to know so that they can be proactive in possibly preventing them.

I agree that our mayor has failed us in this regard. Since these incidents reflect poorly on his leadership, he'd prefer they not be publicized.

Again, were it not for the Observer, I would have had no idea this occurred ON MY OWN STREET!

[cmager]

Why would Mayor Potter talk about crime, when his wrecking ball brass ring of "economic development" trumps all civic maladies!

[Bridget Conant]

Why would Mayor Potter talk about crime, when his brass ring of "economic development" trumps all civic maladies

Yeah, right. Westlake has had a heck of a time policing Crocker Park. The number of criminal incidents in Westlake increased since it opened. Shopping centers attract criminals - all that shiny merchandise and people with wallets and purses!

[Lori Allen _]

Westlake is NOTHING compared to Lakewood! The stuff that our incompetent Mayor/Safety Director hides is a crime it's self.
I have called investigative reporters several times over the past two years. I allege that Summers and Extended Company have made deals with both TV and radio to not make anything in Lakewood public unless Summers says so.

If they received any kind of compensation for their misguided loyalty, I hope it didn't come from our city taxes!

When Mr. Kiska from channel five was here last Summers to interview about Summer's new crossing lights, ( Which one of his friends needed money ? ), he told me that Lakewood police will not give any press releases, even upon request, unless Lord Lakewood says "OK".

[Jim O'Bryan]

I think we can all agree that the police are overworked. When they have to follow these ambulances around to hospitals, they can sometimes be out of the city for up to two hours taking reports.

Thread-drifting, but I thought since it involved news coverage, it should be mentioned.

Lori

fox8, WTAM, WEWS, WKYC, Lakewood Observer, Patch, and Northeast Media Group all got the same release.

From Ed Hassing's Desk:
From Police Report

On Saturday November 26, 2016 at 10:49 pm Lakewood Police received a call reporting a male had been shot in the arm in front of 1382 West Clifton.

Lakewood Police and Fire units were dispatched to the scene. A 16 year old Lakewood resident had sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm. He was transported to Metro Health Medical Center for treatment. The victim was treated and released.

A description of the suspect was obtained from the victim and a witness on the scene. During the follow-up investigation information was developed which led officers to the suspect. The suspect Denzel R. Johnson, 26 yrs old, of Kenilworth Ave in Lakewood was arrested at 2:00 am on Sunday November 27, 2016. Johnson was charged with Felonious Assault. He was transferred to the Cuyahoga County Jail on November 28, 2016.

I will admit it was 3 days later, but they had the suspect in jail within hours. No one was being sought. No one was in danger.

FWIW

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[Lori Allen _]

Wow, imagine what a little heat from the Observation Deck will do. It happened Saturday night? Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday is at least four days. Maybe five depending on what time it actually came out. The press and police work around the clock.

I thought the mayor didn't read the Deck?