July 27, 200915 yr http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=118627&catid=3 Cleveland: Suspected arsonist caught red-handed by surveillance team Posted By: Kim Wendel Updated: 7/27/2009 4:00:05 PM Posted: 7/27/2009 3:49:08 PM CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Fire Department spokesman Larry Gray said a man is now in custody who is suspected of setting the West 44th Street fire as well as others in the area in the past few months. Gray said a team of fire investigators had the area under surveillance and watched as the suspect, only identified as a man, was seen attempting to ignite another fire. Gray said the man is a suspect in the West 44th Street fire and is also suspected of setting some or all of the other 10 fires in the area recently. Gray said there had been an "unusual amount of fires in this area lately" and that is what had fire surveillance teams on the scene.
July 27, 200915 yr I'm the last person to suggest letting anyone off easily, but I think there were extenuating circumstances in Stallworths case. I believe the evidence as presented showed little correlation between his blood alcohol level and the accident itself. I believe it showed that this person would have been hit by anyone in the same situation. We have gone completely overboard with the drinking and driving situation. Blood alcohol level is by no means the only indication of someones ability to drive. I imagine as with anything else, someone could drive better than another with 1/2 the level. I think we go after the low hanging fruit and catch people at checkpoints when they really havent done anything wrong, instead of sitting outside a few bars and really nailing those who can't even walk, let alone drive. Just my opinion. BTW, I've never had a DUI, and probably have never driven under the influence.
July 28, 200915 yr Cleveland gets $11.8 million: Only 1 in 7 police departments to get requested federal aid by Devlin Barrett and Maryclaire Dale / Associated Press Tuesday July 28, 2009, 1:51 PM PHILADELPHIA — The Obama administration today announced $1 billion in grants to help keep police officers on the beat during the economic downturn -- and tried to assure cities not getting aid that they won't be stiffed. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2009/07/only_1_in_7_police_departments.html
July 29, 200915 yr 10 family members vs a 31 year old man and his 12 year old son. Lock every member of the family that took part in this up for 50+ years. This man had his arms held behind his back while a TEENAGER stabbed him in the chest. Damon Blunt fatally stabbed in front of his 12-year-old son; teen boy accused in the slaying Posted by Donna J. Miller/Plain Dealer Reporter July 29, 2009 12:12PM CLEVELAND — The 31-year-old Cleveland man who was stabbed to death Monday at West 35th Street and Daisy Avenue has been identified as Damon Blunt. And two suspects have been arrested. More information at cleveland.com http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/07/damon_blunt_fatally_stabbed_in.html
July 29, 200915 yr I was just reading that. What a mess. The sad part is the kid tried to help and also could have been killed. My heart goes out to that little boy. I just gave my nephew a hug and told him how much I loved him. I think im about to tear up.
July 29, 200915 yr A mob of people is more likely to get out of control than one individual person but i really just want to know WHY this ended the way it did. At what point to people realize that youre holding the arms of a defenseless while he is being stabbed? It really is a tragedy, and i hope the law comes down hard on all involved.
July 29, 200915 yr A mob of people is more likely to get out of control than one individual person but i really just want to know WHY this ended the way it did. At what point to people realize that youre holding the arms of a defenseless while he is being stabbed? It really is a tragedy, and i hope the law comes down hard on all involved. 100% agree
July 29, 200915 yr Jesus, what kind of family is that where they all ganged up on the guy for what? For being loud? Dang.
July 29, 200915 yr Jesus, what kind of family is that where they all ganged up on the guy for what? For being loud? Dang. It may come as a surprise to many when I say this...But if you join the forums and read the information on sites like www.noiseoff.org You will learn how every month in this country alone, someone is either shot, beaten, or stabbed because of an excessive/unnecessary or obnoxious type noise situation. I am NOT at all saying it makes it 'right' to go kill the idiots making the noise, nor am I condoning it....As actually, most of the time there is a noise induced domestic incident, it is the person making the noise, who is asked politely and respectfully to please, please tone it down... 'my children are trying to sleep'....who gets a reaction of violence by the noisemaker. What I am saying however, is that excessive/unecessary noise issues/complaints in a community, especially after hours when people are trying to get rest....cannot be taken lightly...or the result is often this outcome. I see this each and every day all across the country as an advocate for more peaceful neighborhoods in or out of the city...because there is really no escapojg it these days. Noise incidents...can often lead to and often become the 'bigger things' law enforcement has to end up focusing on and what they claim they only have time to deal with. One can ask something like "for what? being loud?" but until one educates one's self about the effects of excessive/ongoing noise on the human body, and what it does to bring out aggression, one will never understand why this terrible stuff ends up happening. Again, I am not saying it is right... that is not the point I am making. My point is centered more around the cause and effect factors that we chose to ignore due to lack of education on this issue. Noise is unique in that when it invades/encroaches on someone's personal space, that person looses control of their own personal environment...and such results in what some audiologists refer to as the 'flight or fight' response..and unfortunately, this person chose the 'fight'. (reaction of violence)..most of the time people want to get away from the invasive/encroaching noise...However, when sometimes you feel there is no escaping it, you can snap when your breaking point is reached..and I can guarantee that there is not one person on this forum, who cannot be driven to snap in some way by being continually acoustically assaulted. It has been used in military torture around the world to reach those breaking points. (Manuel Noriega was driven out of his hidey hole with noise) Hitler even used noise as torture. Anyway, as I said.. most of the time, the violence is against the person who was NOT making the noise, just because the person who was making the noise is respectfully asked to turn it down. These are issues I spend countless hours on delivering presentations to block clubs and councils, to help communities understand the broken window theory effect about excessive, unnecessary noises..and how such issues are far more than the 'nuisance issue' they are thought to be. I was forced into this movement from experiencing something I finally had to do something about. It was not because I enjoy this kind of thing. Right now, we who attempt to help educate communities and law enforcement on these issues-----why they cannot be taken lightly, are about where anti-tobacco was some 40 years ago in attempting to educate the public about the ill effects of tobacco. So, most who don't get it...will be indifferent. World Health Organization and The Southern Medical Journal, to name only two sources, can demonstrate overwhelming data about how excessive/unnecessary noise can effect the human body and physic....causeing learning disabilities, bringing out aggression, restlessness, deafness, anxiety, nausea, chest pains, loss of rest, affect of personal relationships....headache, sweating, vomiting, moodiness, increases of cortizol levels in the body, adrenaline surges, etc..etc... Additionally, other sources such as US Census Bureau, can show information how it is among the number one reasons people flee and move out of any given area. Hence, it is a contributor to and connection to other factors that create declining neighborhoods. Rudy G. in New York understood this extremely well, and so are more and more communities and law enforcement sectors of the government worldwide. I would suggest to anyone who wants to become well informed on excessive noise issues and their negative impacts on any given community, socially, environmentally, and economically...why they need to be taken seriously...nipped in the bud whenever possible, etc.....should start with www.noiseoff.org or www.noisefree.org. www.lowertheboom.org ...>>-----> (how low frequency noise coupled with vibration is one of the most, if not theee most dangerous forms of noise) This is only a shaving of ice from the ice berg...but...You may be shocked at what you learn about this stuff. Feel free to join the discussion forums and read the articles from papers and various news media daily about this topic and such incidents. And remember how indigenous peoples used a beating of war drum to prepare for battle...to get the adrenaline going. Excessive, obnoxious or unnecessary noise that goes on and on in a community is far more than a nuisance issue...it is a public health issue. Hopefully we can evolve and become educated on it to realize why this is so.
July 29, 200915 yr I believe the city's newly created nuisance laws were an attempt to fix this. If nuisance calls (noise, etc.) are made to the police x amount of times, then it becomes a bigger issue. I believe after the 2nd or 3rd call to the same house, that it could involve arrest or even citations on the landlord (if it is a rented property). There was an article last month or so indicating that these new nuisance laws had showed a significant change in the amount of 'domestic issues' in the neighborhoods. Unortunately in this case, it appears the mob (aka The Family) were nothing better then savages that all deserve to be held responsibile.
August 3, 200915 yr Maurice Harrison, Jeremiah Jackson terrorized 13 people before Jackson gunned down woman at West Side laundry, prosecutors say Posted by Donna J. Miller/Plain Dealer Reporter August 03, 2009 07:21AM CLEVELAND — Maurice Harrison, 31, of East 118th Street, was arraigned Thursday on 42 charges, including attempted murder, aggravated robbery, robbery, kidnapping, felonious assault and having a gun. He is being held without bond and is due back in court Aug. 12. Prosecutors say he tried to kill two people and robbed five between June 2 and 18, when he was arrested on an unrelated drug charge. More information at cleveland.com http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/08/cuyahoga_county_jailmaurice_a.html
August 3, 200915 yr Does anything good happen when a club is open on a Sunday night? Moda, Spy Bar now View..great Man Shot Outside Downtown Nightclub Victim Taken To Hospital POSTED: 8:11 am EDT August 3, 2009 UPDATED: 12:09 pm EDT August 3, 2009 http://www.newsnet5.com/news/20262073/detail.html CLEVELAND -- A man was shot in downtown Cleveland early Monday morning. Cleveland police said the man was shot at about 1:55 a.m. outside The View Nightclub near East Fourth Street and Prospect Avenue. The victim was shot in the buttock and left thigh. Emergency crews rushed him to the hospital. There was no immediate word on his condition. Police have made no arrests. They are looking for the gunman
August 3, 200915 yr Why can we not have bouncers pat people down before entering the clubs and bars?! Maybe this incident is unrelated and had nothing to do with people inside the club, but im guessing they were inside the club at some point.
August 4, 200915 yr All these so called "bad asses" that kill using firearms (in most cases against an oponent with no weapon of equal capability) should be put in a forest and used as practice for the Army Rangers... see how they feel when they arent facing an unarmed opponent. Bet they won't be so tough and "gangsta". These punks are nothing but insecure *******. Key word, insecure.
August 4, 200915 yr All these so called "bad asses" that kill using firearms (in most cases against an oponent with no weapon of equal capability) should be put in a forest and used as practice for the Army Rangers... see how they feel when they arent facing an unarmed opponent. Bet they won't be so tough and "gangsta". These punks are nothing but insecure *******. Key word, insecure. They are not "gangstas" (code word for black) or "thugs" or anything other than ignorant A-holes, who have little regard for their own life let alone anyone elses. PERIOD! I totally agree that they are insecure chochas! If you wanted to fist fight, most would run or need help.
August 4, 200915 yr All these so called "bad asses" that kill using firearms (in most cases against an oponent with no weapon of equal capability) should be put in a forest and used as practice for the Army Rangers... see how they feel when they arent facing an unarmed opponent. Bet they won't be so tough and "gangsta". These punks are nothing but insecure PUSSIES. Key word, insecure. They are not "gangstas" (code word for black) or "thugs" or anything other than ignorant A-holes, who have little regard for their own life let alone anyone elses. PERIOD! I totally agree that they are insecure chochas! If you wanted to fist fight, most would run or need help. Who made "gangsta" a keyword for black? They're the ones who started using it, so did they did they bring this key word title upon themselves? But......then marketing gets a hold of it and sells it to everyone..making it look cool to be illiterate and not know how to spell. Watch "The Merchants Of Cool" Really good presentation...
August 4, 200915 yr As far as I'm concerned the word "gangsta" was used by people in ethnic (italian/irish) neighborhoods of the east coast (and chicago obviously) long before Gucci Mane (among others) hit the scene. Though I agree with you MyTwoSense, they would run when confronted with a fist fight. Like my dad always said, why use guns what does that prove? It proves you don't respect your fellow man. Fight it out if you have something to prove, at least then (mostly) both parties live to see another day.
August 5, 200915 yr As far as I'm concerned the word "gangsta" was used by people in ethnic (italian/irish) neighborhoods of the east coast (and chicago obviously) long before Gucci Mane (among others) hit the scene. Though I agree with you MyTwoSense, they would run when confronted with a fist fight. Like my dad always said, why use guns what does that prove? It proves you don't respect your fellow man. Fight it out if you have something to prove, at least then (mostly) both parties live to see another day. Thats whatsI'mtalkin'about! Although on occasion I've been know to wield a bat.
September 9, 200915 yr http://blog.cleveland.com/earlyedition/2007/05/one_night_three_shots_changed.html The Damon Wells case demonstrates rather clearly that the problem goes far deeper than merely imprisoning individual predators. Any culture that makes a hero out of a predator and a villian out of someone who simply refused to become a victim is critically ill, at best.
October 28, 200915 yr Just another Forbes list but I thought it was interesting that Cleveland is the number 10 safest Slide: http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/26/safest-cities-ten-lifestyle-real-estate-metros-msa_slide_3.html List: http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/26/safest-cities-ten-lifestyle-real-estate-metros-msa_chart.html?partner=yahoore
October 28, 200915 yr Just another Forbes list but I thought it was interesting that Cleveland is the number 10 safest Slide: http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/26/safest-cities-ten-lifestyle-real-estate-metros-msa_slide_3.html List: http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/26/safest-cities-ten-lifestyle-real-estate-metros-msa_chart.html?partner=yahoore It's Forbes! It's a ridiculous list!
October 28, 200915 yr Columbus' Natural Disaster rank is amusing. Apparently heading down I71 is more dangerous than I thought!
October 28, 200915 yr Isn't it amazing what happens to our crime statistics when numbers from the entire MSA, and not just the City proper, are taken into account.
November 1, 200915 yr What the hell is wrong with people? What's causing all these mental illnesses? They are saying some of the bodies found in this home may have been there for years.
November 2, 200915 yr Does anyone know how many murders Cleveland has had up until now? I know they had 79 as of Oct 5TH.
November 2, 200915 yr From the New York Times: Neighbor Says Police Knew About Rapist’s House By IAN URBINA Published: November 2, 2009 A neighbor of the convicted rapist in Cleveland who was arrested Saturday night after six decomposed bodies were found in his house said Monday that the police were notified repeatedly about violence there, but little was done. The neighbor, Fawcett Bess, 57, the owner of Bess Chicken and Pizza, across Imperial Avenue from the house, said that about two weeks ago he found the rapist, Anthony Sowell, in the bushes alongside Mr. Sowell’s house naked and standing over a woman who was bloodied, beaten and naked. Mr. Bess said he called 911, and an ambulance soon took the woman away. But the police showed up two hours later and never interviewed him, Mr. Bess said. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/us/03rape.html?hp This is ridiculous. The Police will surely say that they don't have the manpower to investigate, but I have to wonder if they can't even get to this sort of stuff what they are doing. You can double, triple, whatever the number of police, but if they aren't doing sh-t what's the point?
November 2, 200915 yr What the hell is wrong with people? What's causing all these mental illnesses? They are saying some of the bodies found in this home may have been there for years. It's been the same throughout history. Probably was just easier to get away with it in the past.
November 3, 200915 yr What the hell is wrong with people? What's causing all these mental illnesses? They are saying some of the bodies found in this home may have been there for years. It's been the same throughout history. Probably was just easier to get away with it in the past. I have to agree. It gets lost in the relentless media coverage, but people have always been sick.
November 3, 200915 yr This is ridiculous. The Police will surely say that they don't have the manpower to investigate, but I have to wonder if they can't even get to this sort of stuff what they are doing. You can double, triple, whatever the number of police, but if they aren't doing sh-t what's the point? And that is why I call the Downtown Cleveland Alliance to report suspicious activity......
November 3, 200915 yr WTF This angers me to no end!! The police didn't even bother to interview someone who SAW what was going on?!! How does this happen? Why is this allowed to happen?!! Six women were missing in the neighborhood. I could only assume that the police were notified of most, if not all of these persons who were missing in the neighborhood. No investigations. No database searches. NOTHING. Bullsh!t.
November 3, 200915 yr Looks like they found a 7th body :-\ http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=124649&catid=3 clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
November 3, 200915 yr OMG. Jeez. I feel so bad for the families of these women. I know. I've been down those street on the way to the park. That's a decent area. The sad part about this, and I really hate to think like this, but the 6, now 7, bodies found, is only the tip of the iceberg.
November 3, 200915 yr I just hope they are able to identify these women so their families can properly lay them to rest.
November 3, 200915 yr Up to eight now. I've went from anger to sadness for the families who have been affected by this, along with the community. Eight women.
November 3, 200915 yr This shows how important citizen involvement is in a free democracy. Crime is only one area, but for a democracy to be successful, the citizens must be actively involved in the issues of the community. I am not talking vigilante, which is outside the bounds of the law, but I am talking about the active participation of common citizens in keeping the peace. It is important for a community to survive that its citizens actively participate in the day to day activities of the community. This includes people watching out for neighbors and reporting crime or the possibility of a crime being committed to the police. I commend the parents of the Cleveland Arts School for proposing watching and patrolling the bus stops in response to several students being injured in the neighborhood. This is the kind of action needed to stop local crime. It takes courage and commitment from the citizens. The police are essentially a support system.
November 3, 200915 yr ^Actually, I think this shows how incompetent certain elements of the CPD are, given that, per that NYT article, there was "citizen involvement" in the form of calls to the police.
November 4, 200915 yr Anyone know how many missing women has their been in the area? No, however, via a source. Neighbors and people throughout NEO are calling and stopping by the precinct to inquire about loved ones who have been reported missing.
November 4, 200915 yr This is unbelievable, I can't even imagine how many more bodies are going to found that Sowell is responsible for. Hopefully all the bodies will be identified and returned to the loved ones to give them a proper burial. I never knew that E. 123rd and Imperial is considered a Cleveland suburb either, at least thats the way Nancy Grace called it on her show last night. Another thing that got to me was a blond lady on Nancy Grace last night claiming the reason that there were no missing people reports and nor more of a hunt for the women who were missing in this neighborhood is because of the "socio-economic nature of this community." And of course Nancy disGrace didnt ask her what she meant by that comment, instead the show went to commercial.
November 4, 200915 yr Don't forget, however, that even before the police allegedly dropped the ball here, this Sowell character should have never, ever been let out of prison. Evidently, we need more prison space and harsher sentences for violent rapists. ^Actually, I think this shows how incompetent certain elements of the CPD are, given that, per that NYT article, there was "citizen involvement" in the form of calls to the police.
November 4, 200915 yr This just keeps getting worse by the day. ^Actually, I think this shows how incompetent certain elements of the CPD are, given that, per that NYT article, there was "citizen involvement" in the form of calls to the police. I agree. Completely.
November 4, 200915 yr Don't forget, however, that even before the police allegedly dropped the ball here, this Sowell character should have never, ever been let out of prison. Evidently, we need more prison space and harsher sentences for violent rapists. ^Actually, I think this shows how incompetent certain elements of the CPD are, given that, per that NYT article, there was "citizen involvement" in the form of calls to the police. Maybe we should stop filling the many prison cells we have already with nonviolent offenders?
November 4, 200915 yr Do you really think that is the problem, or is it more of a systemic problem that makes people believe that everybody can be rehabilitated? I know there may be a few instances where people are in jail for harmless crimes, but for the most part, someone like this wasn't let out because another was in for failing to pay parking tickets. It goes along with the current reliance on "hate crime" legislation. In a society that punishes people for hurting others, there should be no need for hate crime legislation. If you beat somebody, drag them behind your car, do anything to injure them, the punishment should be the same. It shouldn't matter WHY it was done.
November 4, 200915 yr Everything that is old is new. SeeTorso murders-1930's Cleveland. They knew who he was but even Elliot Ness couldn't put him away. Serial killers are a beast unto themselves. Our constitutional protections against government intrusions, effected by our police and Court systems are ill equipped to handle this very unusual kind kind of criminal. Thus, few if any inferences can be drawn about the effectiveness of our police, the community, etc. from these events.
November 4, 200915 yr I know there may be a few instances where people are in jail for harmless crimes, but for the most part, Or a few million instances, depending on your view of personal drug use. But anyway, I agree that this probably doesn't have much to do with prison overcrowding. I have no idea how this relates to hate crime legislation though. And I disagree this has to do with naive expectations for rehabilitation. This stuff is hard because, for pretty good reasons, we generally don't imprison people for crimes they haven't committed. There are exceptions, of course, and I'm guessing those exceptions will continue to expand in response to horrible cases like this.
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