August 15, 20186 yr Nationwide BikeLife group posts video possibly from Sunday's Cleveland dirt bike and ATV ride A group that travels around the country documenting dirt bike stunts posted a video from what seems like the Sunday ride that brought more than 100 ATV and dirt bike riders through Cleveland and the west side suburbs. The Sunday night ride spread across social media with residents of Lakewood, Rocky River and Bay Village posting videos of the riders, often with police cars following them. Nationwide BikeLife posted a "BikeLife battle" to YouTube on Monday that shows riders going along what looks like Shoreway from the East Side of Cleveland, all the way along Clifton Blvd to Rocky River. Police tracked the pack of riders along most of that route. https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/08/nationwide_bike_life_group_pos.html If they can take down tin foil Alex they can take this channel down too. Love how the link ends with "pos".
August 15, 20186 yr Cleveland crime, police use of force dropped in first five months of 2018, monitor says CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland police officers used less force in the first five months of 2018 than during the same time period last year, following training on new policies required by its court-enforced reform efforts. Officers reported 103 incidents where officers used force between January and May 2017, according to data the city provided to the consent decree monitor and included in a report released Wednesday. That number dropped to 63 instances between January and May of this year. The decrease happened as the number of serious crimes reported to police also fell during the same time frame. https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2018/08/cleveland_crime_police_use_of.html#incart_m-rpt-1
August 15, 20186 yr Cleveland crime, police use of force dropped in first five months of 2018, monitor says CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland police officers used less force in the first five months of 2018 than during the same time period last year, following training on new policies required by its court-enforced reform efforts. Officers reported 103 incidents where officers used force between January and May 2017, according to data the city provided to the consent decree monitor and included in a report released Wednesday. That number dropped to 63 instances between January and May of this year. The decrease happened as the number of serious crimes reported to police also fell during the same time frame. https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2018/08/cleveland_crime_police_use_of.html#incart_m-rpt-1 Wonder if Cleveland Scene will ever report on this...
August 15, 20186 yr https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/08/pittsburgh_women_robbed_at_gun.html Seems to be a ton of robberies in Tremont lately... not great for tourism...
August 16, 20186 yr After dirt bikes take over Cleveland streets, residents want 'no chase' policy changed https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cle-residernts-leaders-want-cpd-no-chase-policy-changed "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 16, 20186 yr After dirt bikes take over Cleveland streets, residents want 'no chase' policy changed https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cle-residernts-leaders-want-cpd-no-chase-policy-changed What's a "residernt"?
August 16, 20186 yr Seems like the dirt bikers are not just from the east side of Cleveland! Richmond Heights and Ashtabula included in these 4 arrested in Lakewood. https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/crime/lakewood-police-charge-four-people-for-atv-and-dirt-bike-chase-through-cuyahoga-county/584056825
August 16, 20186 yr Which makes me wonder how police didn't know about it. I recall that Cleveland police and some suburban departments monitor various media to keep tabs on potential flash mob-type of activities. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 16, 20186 yr I've seen the videos posted on youtube, they post quite a bit. Not the huge rally like what we just saw, but just a few guys riding through neighborhoods to get to some vacant lots, railroad access, etc. Their adventures often start around E 185th. I'd think a TINY bit of police work would uncover who a few of these folks are....
August 16, 20186 yr I think this needs to be reigned in if only for the safety of the riders. This seems like a group of maybe a few dangerous people and a lot of teenagers or young adults joy riding. I worry about their safety and the safety of others on the road.
August 16, 20186 yr I think this needs to be reigned in if only for the safety of the riders. This seems like a group of maybe a few dangerous people and a lot of teenagers or young adults joy riding. I worry about their safety and the safety of others on the road. Totally. Guys eluding/fleeing the police on dirt bikes/ATV's that are speeding & running red lights are about to become roadkill if a truck or car collides into them
August 16, 20186 yr Some of them were riding on sidewalks and treelawns, the very sidewalks my wife, son and I walk or ride a bike to restaurants and stores. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 16, 20186 yr Honestly, my grandpa was right. A police cruiser should've just jutted out at an intersection when a green light came along and "woops, four dirt bikers ran into the side of my cruiser!"
August 16, 20186 yr Some of them were riding on sidewalks and treelawns, the very sidewalks my wife, son and I walk or ride a bike to restaurants and stores. They are a danger to themselves and others. I don't disagree at all. I just think the majority of these guys are doing stupid teenager/young adult stuff. This needs to be brought under control. They should have nipped it in the bud when it might have been easier to control. These vehicles don;t belong in cities. They should be used in rural areas or in suburban areas with large yards.
August 16, 20186 yr I've already heard two people say this entire thing is racial profiling :| #WhyWeHaveTrump
August 16, 20186 yr ^ not racial profiling. They need to be stopped for their own safety as much as the safety of others. There is some racially coded language used in some online discussions I've seen but I think this is a safety issue first and needs to be addressed.
August 16, 20186 yr ^ not racial profiling. They need to be stopped for their own safety as much as the safety of others. There is some racially coded language used in some online discussions I've seen but I think this is a safety issue first and needs to be addressed. Here's the thing, I agree that words like "thug" are often the veil word for racists. But in some instances, the language is deserved. I'm with KJP[/member] ... If I had a kid along their route I would have been FURIOUS.
August 16, 20186 yr Honestly, my grandpa was right. A police cruiser should've just jutted out at an intersection when a green light came along and "woops, four dirt bikers ran into the side of my cruiser!" I agree we need more cops murdering people for non-capital offenses.
August 16, 20186 yr They are a danger to themselves and others. I don't disagree at all. I just think the majority of these guys are doing stupid teenager/young adult stuff. This needs to be brought under control. They should have nipped it in the bud when it might have been easier to control. These vehicles don;t belong in cities. They should be used in rural areas or in suburban areas with large yards. Agreed. They do not belong in an urban setting. Their use and operation needs to be completely banned from all public and private properties in the City of Cleveland except when stored and used only at licensed off-road tracks in the city. They should be forfeited when those terms are violated and when seen in plain sight by police or by search warrant based on information. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 16, 20186 yr Honestly, my grandpa was right. A police cruiser should've just jutted out at an intersection when a green light came along and "woops, four dirt bikers ran into the side of my cruiser!" I agree we need more cops murdering people for non-capital offenses. Pulling into an intersection on a green light is murder. okurrrrr.
August 16, 20186 yr They are a danger to themselves and others. I don't disagree at all. I just think the majority of these guys are doing stupid teenager/young adult stuff. This needs to be brought under control. They should have nipped it in the bud when it might have been easier to control. These vehicles don;t belong in cities. They should be used in rural areas or in suburban areas with large yards. Agreed. They do not belong in an urban setting. Their use and operation needs to be completely banned from all public and private properties in the City of Cleveland except when stored and used only at licensed off-road tracks in the city. They should be forfeited when those terms are violated and when seen in plain sight by police or by search warrant based on information. Playing devil's advocate here, I wonder if any of these guys rely on these bikes to get to work. That could throw a small wrench into a flat out ban in the city limits.
August 16, 20186 yr Honestly, my grandpa was right. A police cruiser should've just jutted out at an intersection when a green light came along and "woops, four dirt bikers ran into the side of my cruiser!" I agree we need more cops murdering people for non-capital offenses. Pulling into an intersection on a green light is murder. okurrrrr. To flip it around, last year when I was stuck on the Main Ave bridge behind them, one of them was doing a wheelie and flipped his bike over on top of himself. If I had run the kid over accidentally, guess who would be getting sued by his parents--even though he should have never been on a freeway in front of me. That's my biggest problem with these kids--they are putting themselves in positions of serious liability, but accept no responsibility. You want to do it? Get the bikes licensed. Wear a helmet. Buy insurance. They are doing none of this.
August 16, 20186 yr Honestly, my grandpa was right. A police cruiser should've just jutted out at an intersection when a green light came along and "woops, four dirt bikers ran into the side of my cruiser!" I agree we need more cops murdering people for non-capital offenses. Pulling into an intersection on a green light is murder. okurrrrr. To flip it around, last year when I was stuck on the Main Ave bridge behind them, one of them was doing a wheelie and flipped his bike over on top of himself. If I had run the kid over accidentally, guess who would be getting sued by his parents--even though he should have never been on a freeway in front of me. That's my biggest problem with these kids--they are putting themselves in positions of serious liability, but accept no responsibility. You want to do it? Get the bikes licensed. Wear a helmet. Buy insurance. They are doing none of this. Bingo, I'm not suggesting we go around swinging our driver doors at them while they're in opposing traffic, but their very existence in that state of reckless behavior puts everyone at risk. Unfortunately, the only way it stops is substantial prosecution or serious injury. I'd rather see a weighty prosecution, obviously, as due process is a better answer than tragedy.
August 16, 20186 yr Honestly, my grandpa was right. A police cruiser should've just jutted out at an intersection when a green light came along and "woops, four dirt bikers ran into the side of my cruiser!" I agree we need more cops murdering people for non-capital offenses. Pulling into an intersection on a green light is murder. okurrrrr. Idk, sounded like you were advocating intentionally striking people with a police vehicle. Although your later comment suggests the doors wouldn’t be open so all good I guess.
August 16, 20186 yr Honestly, my grandpa was right. A police cruiser should've just jutted out at an intersection when a green light came along and "woops, four dirt bikers ran into the side of my cruiser!" I agree we need more cops murdering people for non-capital offenses. Pulling into an intersection on a green light is murder. okurrrrr. Idk, sounded like you were advocating intentionally striking people with a police vehicle. Although your later comment suggests the doors wouldn’t be open so all good I guess. My comment was intentionally impeding their way when they ran a red, which they were doing. I don't want these guys to be met with capital punishment for essentially an enhanced traffic offense.
August 16, 20186 yr And how long until it's a Mom driving with a car full of little kids that suffers the same fate as the hypothetical police cruiser?
August 16, 20186 yr Playing devil's advocate here, I wonder if any of these guys rely on these bikes to get to work. That could throw a small wrench into a flat out ban in the city limits. What's the price (new/used) difference between a street-legal motorcycle vs. a dirt bike that's not street legal. I used to own an off-road motorcycle when I was a teenager living in Geauga County. Sometimes I would ride on the roads and got caught twice by police. The first resulted in a warning. The second resulted in a ticket. As the owner, my dad was ticketed and my father chained up my motorcycle for a month. He said if I got caught again, he would sell my motorcycle. There are some obvious differences between my experience and these urban bike riders. First, I lived in Geauga County where we had lots of places to ride dirt bikes legally, including the track I built on the 2.5 acres of wooded property I lived on. Second, my parents policed me at least as much as the actual police did. Not a lot of inner city homes are two-parent households with a parent working only one job to keep tabs on their kids. As I said before, dirt bikes don't belong in the city. But a city probably can't outright ban them. But they can regulate their use which means that a dirt bike can't be kept anywhere in the city except at a licensed dirt bike track or perhaps at a private property when the dirt bike owner also owns a trailer or a pickup truck to legally transport the bike to a licensed track or to another location outside of the city. Absent these conditions, the police should be able to legally seize a dirt bike. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 16, 20186 yr This is loosely related to the dirt bikes...but the consent decree Monitoring Team recently released it’s fifth semi-annual status report on the ongoing changes at the police department. In focus groups with officers, they described the pursuit policy as... “impeding their ability to engage in some proactive police work. Specifically, officers expressed frustration that the suspects who they try to pull over during a traffic stop may take off – and, without chase, may not ever receive a summons. Officers say that the “no pursuit policy” makes their jobs more difficult, limits their ability to respond to public safety issues, and limits their ability to be a deterrent to criminal activity.” Overall the report is a very interteresting (but long) read and to me, really highlights just how unprofessional and unorganized the police department used to be. It’s mind boggling really. EDIT: https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/4757934/Semiannual-Report-August-2018.pdf
August 19, 20186 yr Some of them were riding on sidewalks and treelawns, the very sidewalks my wife, son and I walk or ride a bike to restaurants and stores. I hear ya, it's gotta be like my attitude towards the guys that tried to bomb the 82 bridge, which I cross frequently with Ardyn. This needs to stop now. It's flat out willful defiance towards the rule of law in a way that endangers people who have nothing to do with any of the alleged issues behind said defiance. If Jackson doesn't get that, he has no business being mayor.
August 19, 20186 yr Honestly, my grandpa was right. A police cruiser should've just jutted out at an intersection when a green light came along and "woops, four dirt bikers ran into the side of my cruiser!" I agree we need more cops murdering people for non-capital offenses. Pulling into an intersection on a green light is murder. okurrrrr. Idk, sounded like you were advocating intentionally striking people with a police vehicle. Although your later comment suggests the doors wouldn’t be open so all good I guess. My comment was intentionally impeding their way when they ran a red, which they were doing. I don't want these guys to be met with capital punishment for essentially an enhanced traffic offense. I'd equate it to driving 130mph down the freeway in traffic. It's not a capital offense, but if the laws of physics catch up with someone, it's on them. Choosing actions means choosing their consequences.
August 21, 20186 yr Could some lawyer get together every propery owner that was turfed and file a class action lawsuit against the city for allowing this to go on? I could see anyone who wants to be mayor next election cycle getting this together.
August 21, 20186 yr Could some lawyer get together every propery owner that was turfed and file a class action lawsuit against the city for allowing this to go on? I could see anyone who wants to be mayor next election cycle getting this together. I suspect the city would have to agree to be sued. Good luck with that. There's also the potential for legal harassment. The Fun Burglar (Tremonster) has been quiet since Cimperman had to resign, perhaps he could be someone else's stalking horse. Zack's been all over this and the crime issues, though he stops short of blaming gang activity.
August 21, 20186 yr Apparently he spells it both ways. https://twitter.com/zachreed12?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Some of you: don't say it. :o
August 26, 20186 yr A great article in the New Yorker about the failures of implementing Broken Windows policing and what the policies are missing. The study the researchers did focused on the crime rates around rehabilitated properties. It showed a 39% reduction in crime when a building is remediate and 5% when a lot is. It’s a great read. The only thing I couldn’t figure out but would like to know, is the difference in rehabbing and abandoned home versus demolishing it like we’re doing here. https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-other-side-of-broken-windows?utm_source=citylab-daily&silverid=MzEwMTkwMTMyNDIwS0
August 26, 20186 yr ^Good find. Would certainly help explain why cities like Cleveland and Baltimore have much, much higher crime rates than similarly poor places, like the Bronx these days.
September 1, 20186 yr Awfully close to downtown I TEAM: multiple people shot, one dead on Cleveland’s east side https://fox8.com/2018/09/01/i-team-multiple-people-shot-on-clevelands-east-side/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 6, 20186 yr Some of these stories about city corruption seem to keep getting buried. I wonder how many buildings were needlessly torn down because he was bribed by contractors. https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2018/08/ex-cleveland_demolition_bureau.html Ex-Cleveland demolition bureau chief charged with soliciting, taking bribes from contractors Updated Aug 27; Posted Aug 24 By Eric Heisig, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The former chief of the city of Cleveland's demolition bureau was charged Friday with soliciting and taking thousands of dollars in bribes from contractors in exchange for a leg up in obtaining city jobs, federal prosecutors say. Rufus Taylor, 60, is charged with bribery in a federally funded program, and extortion. The charges against him were filed via a criminal information, which usually means a plea agreement is forthcoming. The U.S. Attorney's Office says Taylor, as head of the bureau, gave preferential treatment to two unnamed contractors in exchange for information about upcoming projects for demolition and abatement. He and the contractors agreed to bribes in exchange for the information, and Taylor received cash over several years, authorities say. Taylor, a Cleveland resident, retired in January after working at the city for 30 years. His charges follow an investigation by the FBI and other agencies. ... Taylor's job as demolition chief meant he was in charge of assigning the "board-up" of vacant and abandoned properties in Cleveland to contractors, as well as assigning emergency demolition jobs. He was also responsible for inspecting properties, which had to happen before a contractor was paid, according to prosecutors. https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2018/09/former_cleveland_demolition_bu.html Former Cleveland demolition bureau chief pleads guilty to extorting, accepting bribes from contractors Updated Sep 4, 7:15 PM; Posted Sep 4, 4:55 PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The city of Cleveland's former demolition bureau chief admitted Tuesday to soliciting and accepting thousands of dollars in bribes from contractors in exchange for a leg up in obtaining city jobs. Rufus Taylor pleaded guilty to extortion and bribery in a federally funded program. The 60-year-old, who retired from the city in January after working there for 30 years, gave preferential treatment to two contractors in exchange for information about upcoming projects for demolition and abatement. He and the contractors agreed to take bribes in exchange for the information, and Taylor received cash over several years, authorities say. Taylor was charged Aug. 24. The federal government has not identified the contractors. Cleveland.com has asked the city of Cleveland for records related to the case, but the city has not provided them. Taylor listened as federal Magistrate Judge Thomas Parker read a portion of his plea agreement that detailed his conduct. When Parker asked him if the government could prove all the facts read aloud, Taylor replied, "it's true." His attorney Michael Peterson said after the hearing that Taylor's plea agreement includes a calculation that would likely lead him and the U.S. Attorney's Office to recommend a sentence of between 37 and 46 months in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Rice said at the hearing that the government would also recommend a fine of $3,925, which is already in the FBI's possession.
September 6, 20186 yr I don't think this guy was deciding how many buildings to demo, he just got his beak wet in the process. City and county leadership are the ones who insist on destroying everything as quickly as possible. Now is as good a time as any to reconsider that mission.
September 16, 20186 yr Uh oh.... CLE ~ Structure Fire - Mather Ship, Erieside - electrical fire in engine room, smoke coming from ship -BW "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 17, 20186 yr If you watch any true crime documentary there's inevitably a point in the story where the police just screw up royally. Families of six Anthony Sowell victims reach $1 million settlement with Cleveland over detective's botched investigation By Cory Shaffer, cleveland.com CShafferCleveland[/member].com CLEVELAND, Ohio - The City of Cleveland has agreed to pay $1 million to the families of six women who fell victim to condemned serial-killer Anthony Sowell after a botched police investigation into a 2008 rape accusation allowed Sowell to walk out of jail with no charges. The families of Nancy Cobbs, Telacia Fortson, Amelda Hunter, Le'Shanda Long, Diane Turner, and Janice Webb will divvy up the $1 million equally as part of an agreement to settle a lawsuit that was filed in 2010, dismissed by a county judge in 2014 and revived by an appeals court late last year. The City of Cleveland, which will not admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement, also agreed to reimburse the families' lawyers for the cost of bringing the eight-year lawsuit. https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2018/09/families_of_six_anthony_sowell.html
September 18, 20186 yr Random beatings especially with no robbery is not good: Police investigating pair of attacks that seriously injured victims after night out in downtown Cleveland CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland police are investigating a pair of apparently random attacks downtown that left the victims with serious injuries after a night out. The attacks each occurred near West 9th Street and Johnson Court in the city's Warehouse District, a popular nightlife area. https://fox8.com/2018/09/17/police-investigating-pair-of-attacks-that-seriously-injured-victims-after-night-out-in-downtown-cleveland/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
September 18, 20186 yr Random beatings especially with no robbery is not good: Police investigating pair of attacks that seriously injured victims after night out in downtown Cleveland CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland police are investigating a pair of apparently random attacks downtown that left the victims with serious injuries after a night out. The attacks each occurred near West 9th Street and Johnson Court in the city's Warehouse District, a popular nightlife area. https://fox8.com/2018/09/17/police-investigating-pair-of-attacks-that-seriously-injured-victims-after-night-out-in-downtown-cleveland/amp/?__twitter_impression=true We broke up a mugging there probably two summers ago. 5 on 2.
September 18, 20186 yr A friend of mine was attacked from behind on Johnson Court about 15 years ago. But he was an investigative reporter looking into the firechasing business in Cleveland -- a mob-connected operation. He suspected the blindside attack was because of his recent articles because nothing was stolen. Now that I seeing this latest news, perhaps he was wrong about the reason. Either way, Johnson Court has been a problem for a long time. Not good for the Worthington Yards apartments. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 19, 20186 yr The number of random attacks/robberies in downtown and the near west side is worrying. The two downtown attacks listed above and two violent robberies in Ohio City recently as well. https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/09/minnesota_couple_attacked_robb.html https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/09/group_attacks_man_from_behind.html
September 19, 20186 yr The number of random attacks/robberies in downtown and the near west side is worrying. The two downtown attacks listed above and two violent robberies in Ohio City recently as well. https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/09/minnesota_couple_attacked_robb.html https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/09/group_attacks_man_from_behind.html Wow, I live at 28th and Franklin. This is terrible.
September 19, 20186 yr The number of random attacks/robberies in downtown and the near west side is worrying. The two downtown attacks listed above and two violent robberies in Ohio City recently as well. https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/09/minnesota_couple_attacked_robb.html https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/09/group_attacks_man_from_behind.html Wow, I live at 28th and Franklin. This is terrible. And I live at 38th and Clinton. I don’t want to feel like I can’t walk around my own neighborhood.
September 19, 20186 yr ^^ The culprits in the recent crime spree around Ohio City were apprehended on Monday.
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