Fallsnewspress.com - Kidnapping added to charges after check forgery incident

Cuyahoga Falls -- Charges against a 29-year-old Akron man who tried to pass a bad check escalated to kidnapping and obstructing justice when he tried to elude police by forcing someone to give him a ride.

Police were called to a check-cashing shop in the 2000 block of State Road around 6 p.m. Aug. 19 where the Akron man was trying to cash a check that was allegedly counterfeit. Seeing the responding officers, the suspect ran across the street where he saw a 31-year Akron woman in a car, and tricked her into letting him get in.

When he saw police were getting closer, he pushed down on the accelerator. However, the woman was holding down the brake, so the man jumped back out of the car and ran, only to get caught by police a short distance away. He was charged with kidnapping, forgery and obstructing justice.

Burglaries

Aug. 25 -- Gun among stolen items. A resident of the 600 block of Grant Avenue reported that someone entered his house through an unlocked window between 7 a.m. Aug. 23 and 2:50 p.m. Aug. 25 1450 and took a handgun, video game system and jewelry. His loss was approximately $1,600.

Aug. 23 -- Drugs missing after break-in. A receptionist for a doctor's office in the 2200 block of Broad Boulevard reported someone broke in over the weekend between noon Aug. 20 and 9 a.m. Aug. 23, and stole prescription drugs, computers and a television. Damage was estimated at $300. The computers and television were valued at $5,500. Police say the street value of the drugs was $2,100.

Aug. 22 -- Shoes, phone taken. A resident of the 1000 block of Howe Avenue reported someone broke into his apartment through an unlocked front door between noon and 10:50 p.m. Reported missing were a cell phone and a pair of tennis shoes. Loss was $350.

Aug. 17 -- Stove stolen. A Barberton woman reported someone broke into her friend's house in the 2200 block of 15th Street and took a television, laptop computer and stove, all worth approximately $3,000, between 5:30 p.m. Aug. 16 and 8:30 a.m. Aug. 17. Entry was made through an open door, police said.

Assault

Aug. 20 -- Akronite charged in teen's assault. An 19-year-old Akron man was arrested and charged with assault and theft after police say he stole a cell phone from a 16-year-old Falls boy around 10 p.m. at Portage Trail and Front Street during Rockin' on the River. Minutes later, when the juvenile approached the Akron man at Front Street and Stow Avenue to get his phone back, the man struck the boy in the face. The boy then reported the incident to an officer working on the mall, who found the man and arrested him. The boy had a small cut over his right eye, police said, but did not receive medical treatment.

Theft from the elderly

Aug. 18 -- Lumber jerk. An elderly resident of the 1700 block of Issaquah Street reported that in April she paid $1,650 to someone with a tree service to cut down three trees, grind stumps, trim and remove brush. However, only two trees were cut down, the report said, and no other services were completed. She said her loss was $983.

Accidents

Aug. 21 -- Full time and attention. A 23-year-old Sharpsville, Pa., woman was cited for full time and attention after the vehicle she was driving rear-ended one driven by a 59-year-old Silver Lake woman at the traffic light on Graham Road eastbound at State Route 8 around 9:30 a.m. Police say that when the light turned green, the Pennsylvania woman started to go and looked down at her GPS unit for a moment. The Silver Lake woman, however, was still stopped. There were no injuries; both vehicles had minor damage.

Village of Silver Lake

Burglary

Aug. 18 -- TVs, jewelry taken. An East Edgerton Road resident reported her home was burglarized sometime between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The resident told police she left for work with her niece at around 9 a.m. Aug. 18. When they returned home at about 4:30 p.m., they noticed two flat-screen televisions and some jewelry had been taken. Entry was gained through an unlocked door. Police do not have any leads or suspects, but are continuing to investigate.

Editor's note: Police News is a sampling of incidents responded to by the Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake police departments.