A few things to take away from this one:

 

1.  I wish they still made more manual shift cars.

2.  Good job Cleveland police--interesting how quickly they hunted the kids down and locked them in the train.

3.  If you're going to commit these crimes, don't be a complete IDIOT and do it where all the cops live.  This probably had something to do with their response!

Cleveland carjacking suspect captured because he can't drive stick shift

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An 18-year-old man accused of committing three armed carjackings in a 10-day span was arrested because he didn't know how to drive stick shift, according to court records.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/03/cleveland_carjacking_suspect_c.html

 

Haha.  I love this.  Both of my cars are manuals.  Won't have it any other way.  I strongly prefer it (no it's not because my wife can't operate a manual ;)).  And they both have a super sensitive clutch.  Even people who know how to drive stick uisually stall out my G when they try to drive it at first.  That's why I'm not super concerned if I leave it running.

 

Related but funny story is that about 10-15 years ago, one of my friends was living near Coventry and had one of those older American cars that thieves love to steal.  He parked it on Mayfield Rd. one night and when he came down in the morning to move it to the other side of the road (so he wouldn't get ticketed during rush hour), the car was gone.  He called me to come over and help him look for it.  I told him he was being silly and we would never find that car, but he insisted.  Turns out we found it two blocks away.  He knew there wasn't any gas in the car (he had planned to go over to that BP on Coventry and Mayfield when he moved the car).  That thief must have been piiiisssssssed.

But why did they steal the cars in the first place if they were just going to leave them and jump on the rapid?

 

He couldn't drive the car he tried to steal so.....

 

Yeah but they stole one just before that, only to drive a short distance to try to steal another.... 

My question is: why are the bonds SO low? He literally pays the bond, gets out and does another jack in an hour.

^What kind of idiot leaves a car--a Porsche SUV no less--running and walks into a store? I hope her car is never found and the insurance doesn't pay her a dime.

^^Higher bail amounts are imposed to increase the likelihood a defendant appears at court proceedings, not to keep someone behind bars. If a defendant is too high a risk for bail, the remedy is denying it, not increasing the amount.

 

[EDIT: I'm probably oversimplifying things in Ohio. Looks like the severity of the crime is per se an element to be considered in setting bail, per ORC. Not the case in other jurisdictions I'm more familiar with.]

My question is: why are the bonds SO low? He literally pays the bond, gets out and does another jack in an hour.

 

$100k is low?  There's been a lot of controversy recently about bonds being too high, not too low.  In this instance, he couldn't pay it and remains in jail.

 

^^Higher bail amounts are imposed to increase the likelihood a defendant appears at court proceedings, not to keep someone behind bars. If a defendant is too high a risk for bail, the remedy is denying it, not increasing the amount.

 

[EDIT: I'm probably oversimplifying things in Ohio. Looks like the severity of the crime is per se an element to be considered in setting bail, per ORC. Not the case in other jurisdictions I'm more familiar with.]

 

I do bail hearings all the time and your edit is correct.  The issues we normally deal with are flight risk and public safety risk, based on the defendant's record and life circumstances.  I also bring up the needs of dependents at home if they have any.  The charge is a factor too but it speaks for itself.

^I think Sherman is referring to the $10K bail after the previous car theft arrest, though it's not clear if that one was an armed carjacking or not (if that matters). From the article:

 

He stole the first car the evening of Feb. 11 from a 35-year-old man who went to the CVS at West Boulevard and Dennison Avenue to return a movie to the Redbox, police said. Four people surrounded the man, one took the man's keys and two hopped in the 2004 Nissan and sped away, according to reports.

 

Wayne was charged Feb. 13 and posted $10,000 bond the next day.

But why did they steal the cars in the first place if they were just going to leave them and jump on the rapid?

 

He couldn't drive the car he tried to steal so.....

 

Yeah but they stole one just before that, only to drive a short distance to try to steal another.... 

 

Where someone picks it up to take it to the chop shop.

^What kind of idiot leaves a car--a Porsche SUV no less--running and walks into a store? I hope her car is never found and the insurance doesn't pay her a dime.

 

It was left about thirty blocks away, undamaged, with the little girl still inside safe. 

 

What kind of person does that?  Someone who thinks no one is going to be dumb enough to mess with them.  Someone who has a car that valuable and drives in that neighborhood, with “friends” along in a separate car.

 

Odds are good the child was the daughter or granddaughter of someone involved in “commerce” in that area, who put out the word rather quickly that whoever had done this was in very serious trouble.  The thief likely got the word rapidly, and while the car was reportedly undamaged I would not be surprised if it had a rather malodorously stained driver’s seat.

 

Extreme example, but the point is that in higher crime areas there are complications all but the dumbest thieves don’t consider, so they go places which have their own complications they are unaware of.

^I think you get a little carried away with your theories about crime networks here in CLE.  People drive nice cars into bad neighborhoods.  Sometimes they are visiting relatives.  Sometimes they live there... it is their home, as odd as it may seem to you.  Sad but true that some people spend a good chunk of their salary on a car and skimp on their living.  Wasn't a guy who drives a new mustang (or something like that) found living in a storage unit?  This isn't John Wick, where the thief shows up at the chop shop and the chop shop owner knows exactly whose car it is and refuses to take it, followed by a call from the local mob boss.  Well, at least "odds are" that isn't the case.  That would be extremely rare.  The crime in Cleveland, at least the criminals you are talking about, can be vicious, but are not all that sophisticated and the network is largely disjointed.

^I think you get a little carried away with your theories about crime networks here in CLE.  People drive nice cars into bad neighborhoods.  Sometimes they are visiting relatives.  Sometimes they live there... it is their home, as odd as it may seem to you.  Sad but true that some people spend a good chunk of their salary on a car and skimp on their living.  Wasn't a guy who drives a new mustang (or something like that) found living in a storage unit?  This isn't John Wick, where the thief shows up at the chop shop and the chop shop owner knows exactly whose car it is and refuses to take it, followed by a call from the local mob boss.  Well, at least "odds are" that isn't the case.  That would be extremely rare.  The crime in Cleveland, at least the criminals you are talking about, can be vicious, but are not all that sophisticated and the network is largely disjointed.

 

It wasn't much the Cayenne as leaving it unlocked with the child inside while popping into the store, and being accompanied by friends, none of which were riding in the super-nice SUV.  This was someone who felt perfectly safe, despite her surroundings.  Then a $60,000 car showing up completely unharmed a couple hours later.

 

A lot of sophistication isn't needed.  A text to the person of influence/repuation, followed by blast texts/posts expanding exponentially.  They say the only thing faster than light is the speed of gossip, well in this day and age it's increased an order of magnitude.

^i wont rule out the possibility, but highly unlikely. Minuscule chance that's how it played out.

Ohio police pull over a car where 90 and 77 merge----and this results in other cars crashing into them. Why the hell is state police pulling cars over in such a location?  And even moreso, why are Ohio Troopers operating in the city of cleveland? They belong in the boonies where they used to be. Now, they're causing injuries and unsafe conditions?  This shows they don't belong in the city. WTF?

 

http://fox8.com/2017/03/24/video-shows-chain-reaction-crash-on-downtown-cleveland-highway/

Ohio police pull over a car where 90 and 77 merge----and this results in other cars crashing into them. Why the hell is state police pulling cars over in such a location?  And even moreso, why are Ohio Troopers operating in the city of cleveland? They belong in the boonies where they used to be. Now, they're causing injuries and unsafe conditions?  This shows they don't belong in the city. WTF?

 

http://fox8.com/2017/03/24/video-shows-chain-reaction-crash-on-downtown-cleveland-highway/

 

I agree that the whole situation could have been handled better, with regards to traffic. But I don't really understand your statement. The highway patrol has jurisdiction on all roads in the state, and cops routinely close lanes on highways for one reason or another without being hit.

 

And are you really saying that you'd rather there are less cops operating in Cleveland? I think they need all the help they can get. I for one appreciate it because you don't see Cleveland cops on the freeway, and that's understandable. The more help the merrier imo.

Ohio police pull over a car where 90 and 77 merge----and this results in other cars crashing into them. Why the hell is state police pulling cars over in such a location?  And even moreso, why are Ohio Troopers operating in the city of cleveland? They belong in the boonies where they used to be. Now, they're causing injuries and unsafe conditions?  This shows they don't belong in the city. WTF?

 

http://fox8.com/2017/03/24/video-shows-chain-reaction-crash-on-downtown-cleveland-highway/

 

I've seen OHP camped out at the approach to Dead Man's Curve before and thinking that wasn't too bright.  It's all about the fine $$$.

There's a gofundme for funeral expenses for David Wilder, CSU and Tri-C professor, killed this weekend driving down Woodland Ave.

 

https://www.gofundme.com/funeral-expenses-for-david-wilder

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/03/three_men_charged_in_connectio.html#incart_m-rpt-1

 

Also killed was 15 year old Tywan Cortez Johnson. 

 

Right now they're on the 90 WB median embankment near the W 44th exit, doing everything in their power to avoid fighting crime.

 

If Ohio's state police force wants to operate in Cleveland they should be doing it at street level.  Woodland Avenue is technically a highway and that's where we need the manpower.  Cleveland does not suffer from a crisis of traffic enforcement.  To focus resources on that in the face of real crises is incompetent and absurd.  We've got professors getting randomly shot in broad daylight.  If that trooper is visible on SR 87 instead of IR 90, maybe we don't.

Some guy killed a man on facebook live. He said he killed about 13!!!

^ And he's still on the loose.

 

For those interested, the Daily Mail seems to have the most info of any of the sources I've read so far. I'm not going to post a link because it's pretty graphic. The murder was completely random - like he just stopped his car, got out, and killed a random guy who happened to be walking down the street at the time.

That is quite strange.  I just heard about it on the radio on my way home.  Highly unusual for a random murder.  Let's hope they get him off the streets.

Tragic. Mr. Godwin was a beloved famuly man and neighborhood citizen who was taken away by a very sick and twisted man... Daily Mail has been the most comprehensive in coverage -- they specialize in crimes like this. They even posted the ex-girlfriend's photo which seems like a privacy invasion. She's an unwitting victim of this crazy man who likely will not be taken alive.

Just heard Stephens' cellphone was pinged by a Solon tower within last 20 minutes.

^There is also word that there was a ping in or near Erie PA.  Stay vigilant until he is caught Cleveland folks. 

Cleveland PD is alerting people that there is misinformation out there.  Follow the CPD Twitter for press releases.

^Police are now saying it's highly possible that he's left the state... You're right though; people could go crazy with rumors.  The Solon-ping report came from a Scene Mag reporter.  However if this was accurate, it would make sense since a Solon cell tower could have pinged Stephens exiting the area down I-271 and 480 to the Turnpike.  Police are now saying it's also probable that he's turned his cellphone off due to potential tracking... Despite being a violent sicko, the guy is obviously no dummy.

^ This is why sometimes media reporting can be detrimental.  Once he knew that the cell phone was being pinged he knew to ditch it or turn it off.

^Police are now saying it's highly possible that he's left the state... You're right though; people could go crazy with rumors.  The Solon-ping report came from a Scene Mag reporter.  However if this was accurate, it would make sense since a Solon cell tower could have pinged Stephens exiting the area down I-271 and 480 to the Turnpike.  Police are now saying it's also probable that he's turned his cellphone off due to potential tracking... Despite being a violent sicko, the guy is obviously no dummy.

 

Girlfriend lives in Twinsburg, hence the Solon ping, but she's being well guarded by TPD.

 

I've never seen a reaction like this to a single murder around here, which is by no means a bad thing.  Outsiders on social media saying he claimed BLM or Islam, or contrarily stating that CPD is slacking because Mr. Godwin was black, are infuriating.

^This is where I'm confused.  One confirmed kill, correct?  But he claimed to have killed a dozen?  I think that claim, plus the first murder being on Facebook Live, is causing all of the national attention.

^I heard he said he would kill a lot more people. If that's the case, then that's a big reason to find and capture him asap, and the national attention.

^^I think the national attention is more driven by that horrible Facebook video than Stephens' hopefully  specious claim of serial killings.  While I wouldn't rule it totally out, what little we know of this guy's twisted psyche, points to his brutally executing innocent good-guy, Robert Godwin, because of doubts expressed by his coworkers that he was capable of such a thing.  It follows that an unstable, insecure individual would puff up his notoriety by claiming to have committed murders that he really didn't commit.  Of course he was also attempting to guilt-trip his ex, Joy Lane. 

^^I think the national attention is more driven by that horrible Facebook video than Stephens' hopefully  specious claim of serial killings.  While I wouldn't rule it totally out, what little we know of this guy's twisted psyche, points to his brutally executing innocent good-guy, Robert Godwin, because of doubts expressed by his coworkers that he was capable of such a thing.  It follows that an unstable, insecure individual would puff up his notoriety by claiming to have committed murders that he really didn't commit.  Of course he was also attempting to guilt-trip his ex, Joy Lane. 

 

The irony is if he's shrewd it might be awhile before he's captured.  Turns out he has a second car that no one knows about.  People are saying he's in the Erie, PA area based on a phone ping, but if he drove by the 90 exits and found a car with out of state plates and an open window and dropped it in, that's how it would play out too.

 

It took five years to capture Eric Rudolph.

The suspect is dead.  He committed suicide in Erie, PA.  This ordeal is over.

WCBS news radio in NY was broadcasting the news conference by the Cleveland mayor live this morning and after he said "I don't know" for the umpteenth time in response to questions they pulled the plug on the feed. lol

after he said "I don't know" for the umpteenth time

 

Sounds like the Cleveland Mayor alright.  It's always cringe worthy watching him speak.   

Some opposition mayoral candidate is going to have a field day stitching together all of those "I don't knows" into an ad. Or maybe I'm giving Jackson's opposition way too much credit here.

^Maybe. I don't know. Ha!

 

Some opposition mayoral candidate is going to have a field day stitching together all of those "I don't knows" into an ad. Or maybe I'm giving Jackson's opposition way too much credit here.

 

And the close would be "we've known about this for years".

And finally, "But it is what it is."

While the Facebook killer episode is over, the killing of neighborhoods continues while Loomis and his lazy CPD watches...

 

Cleveland loses yet another neighbhorhood anchor to violence: Phillip Morris

http://www.cleveland.com/morris/index.ssf/2017/04/cleveland_loses_yet_another_ne.html#incart_most-commented_metro_article

The media has fetishized the killing by Steve Stephens to an absurd extent. To recap:

- The P-D kept referencing that it was a Facebook Live video long after it had been debunked as just a video uploaded to Facebook.

- The P-D kept posting about the killing on social media in an almost continuous stream, whether there were updates or not. Information posted by the P-D was conflicting and bordered on irresponsible. Was he in Philadelphia where it was falsely reported that he was seen there? Or in Toledo? Or in Michigan? What about Lorain? Erie? New York? The P-D couldn't keep it straight and in times like that, it's better to err in caution than to spread misinformation.

- The P-D also fetishized over where Stephens' acquired his car. Kia of Bedford!

- The P-D then tied his killing over his debts from gambling. It had no relevance but there were two stories devoted to it.

- And don't get me started over Jackson.

 

And for the Kuznik family? Is there even an FBI inquiry? Round-the-clock coverage? Two anchors in a neighborhood gunned down over two vehicles? Nothing. Nothing from the P-D. Nothing from Jackson. I'm surprised he hasn't thrown the police under the bus again. This comment sums up my thoughts:

 

"Cleveland wants more businesses and individuals to inhabit this city, but why would they with the ridiculous amount of corruption and violent crime that brings this city into the national spotlight? And the attitudes of Mayor "you don't understand the culture" Jackson, and Judge Joan Synenberg are abetting these criminals because they are excusing their behavior."

 

Maybe if we had that $2 million dirt bike track...

^Why would the FBI be involved in the Kuznik case? 

 

I'm not a fan of salacious crime coverage, but the circumstances of the Godwin murder (known assailant, multi state manhunt, the Facebook posts) don't really compare to the Kuznik murders, horrible as they are.

 

And Cleveland.com has run several stories about the Kuznik case, so I have no idea why you are claiming there's been no coverage.

 

[typo]

I also fail to understand why the FBI would get involved in the Kuznik murders.  Are there some suspicions that this may be mob related and give rise to a RICO case?

 

Seems to me that the Kuznik case has received more coverage than most murders in Cleveland?  Is there a reason why it should receive more?

I also fail to understand why the FBI would get involved in the Kuznik murders.  Are there some suspicions that this may be mob related and give rise to a RICO case?

 

Seems to me that the Kuznik case has received more coverage than most murders in Cleveland?  Is there a reason why it should receive more?

 

Multiple assailants, several cars and documents stolen?  Lots of potential reasons why.

While the Facebook killer episode is over, the killing of neighborhoods continues while Loomis and his lazy CPD watches...

 

Cleveland loses yet another neighbhorhood anchor to violence: Phillip Morris

http://www.cleveland.com/morris/index.ssf/2017/04/cleveland_loses_yet_another_ne.html#incart_most-commented_metro_article

 

I commented asking if he could support his "North Collinwood imploding" comment with numbers.  185th seems a tad shaky, but Waterloo's doing well it seems.

 

I'm not sure it's fair to call CPD "lazy".  Loomis can support his argument about being understaffed with facts, and they are rather hamstrung by the "consent decree" and the current admin's overreaction to same.  I wouldn't be surprised to see one or more mayoral candidate(s) ask Sessions to vacate it.

Honestly, the CPD was shiite even before the consent decree.  The consent decree might actually be what they need to get their act together.

I'm not sure it's fair to call CPD "lazy".  Loomis can support his argument about being understaffed with facts, and they are rather hamstrung by the "consent decree" and the current admin's overreaction to same.  I wouldn't be surprised to see one or more mayoral candidate(s) ask Sessions to vacate it.

 

Without speaking in generalities, how has the consent decree "hamstrung" the CPD?  If you are talking about the components aimed at reducing excessive use of force, the City had already put many of those practices in place before the consent decree was officially entered, and is not likely to eliminate those new policies.  Seems to me that the consent decree is working - at least as it pertains to use of force policies - as we haven't seen reoccurrence of the national embarrassments which led to it in the first place. 

Honestly, the CPD was shiite even before the consent decree.  The consent decree might actually be what they need to get their act together.

 

I wouldn't go that far.  They are indeed understaffed and the City itself poses many challenges which preclude effective order-maintenance policing.  Most of the worst neighborhood no longer have the density or design to allow for foot patrols.  There's no easy solution, consent decree or not. 

I'm not sure it's fair to call CPD "lazy".  Loomis can support his argument about being understaffed with facts, and they are rather hamstrung by the "consent decree" and the current admin's overreaction to same.  I wouldn't be surprised to see one or more mayoral candidate(s) ask Sessions to vacate it.

 

Without speaking in generalities, how has the consent decree "hamstrung" the CPD?  If you are talking about the components aimed at reducing excessive use of force, the City had already put many of those practices in place before the consent decree was officially entered, and is not likely to eliminate those new policies.  Seems to me that the consent decree is working - at least as it pertains to use of force policies - as we haven't seen reoccurrence of the national embarrassments which led to it in the first place. 

 

The main one is the no-chase policy.  Perhaps no national embarrasments, but plenty of local ones as the suburban PDs do their work for them.

There are very good reasons for no chase policies.  And I don't believe that CPD has a blanket no chase policy.

Honestly, the CPD was shiite even before the consent decree.  The consent decree might actually be what they need to get their act together.

 

I wouldn't go that far.  They are indeed understaffed and the City itself poses many challenges which preclude effective order-maintenance policing.  Most of the worst neighborhood no longer have the density or design to allow for foot patrols.  There's no easy solution, consent decree or not. 

The "worst" neighborhoods, I would say, need car patrols.  Both because of protection, the things they can bring along, and so that mutual support can arrive quickly.

 

Foot patrols are good for downtown, though I'm a big believer in the value of horse patrols.