All municipal court judgeds send felonies to common pleas.  They have no choice because they have no jurisdiction.  But still tons of crimes, including many violent offenses, alcohol related crimes, drug offenses, disorderly conduct, and most other crimes committed by the kids who are leading their way into the more serious offense we would like to prevent, are run through the municipal courts and he was known for a zero tolerance policy.  His policy was not just known in the legal community either.  The criminals knew it, yet were not deterred to any measurable extent.

All municipal court judgeds send felonies to common pleas.  They have no choice because they have no jurisdiction.  But still tons of crimes, including many violent offenses, alcohol related crimes, drug offenses, disorderly conduct, and most other crimes committed by the kids who are leading their way into the more serious offense we would like to prevent, are run through the municipal courts and he was known for a zero tolerance policy.  His policy was not just known in the legal community either.  The criminals knew it, yet were not deterred to any measurable extent.

 

Did he hear juvenile cases, or were those automatically sent to juvenile court?

Juvenile cases are always heard in juvenile court..... from major crimes on down to traffic tickets.  The only exception is when the juvenile is tried as an adult, and that only occurs for the most serious crimes (probably nothing less than an F1).  I said "kids" in the most generic sense, meaning to imply that 18-24 age group (approximately) which is responsible for so much of the crime.

Juvenile cases are always heard in juvenile court..... from major crimes on down to traffic tickets.  The only exception is when the juvenile is tried as an adult, and that only occurs for the most serious crimes (probably nothing less than an F1).  I said "kids" in the most generic sense, meaning to imply that 18-24 age group (approximately) which is responsible for so much of the crime.

 

You probably have to intercept these kids before they hit 18, but I see your point.

 

Are there public records of the results of juvenile cases with names and identifying information redacted, or is it 100% sealed?

The public can't access the juvenile court docket

The public can't access the juvenile court docket

 

That's what I thought.

 

So how are we supposed to evaluate the job the juvenile court judges are doing?

 

Maybe they should be appointed by the County Exec, with the advice and consent of the County Council.

 

I imagine they could easily get a viewpoint similar to Cleveland Housing Court.  The parents of defendants vote, while the rest of the electorate has little idea of what is going on.

 

This is a major hole in Cuyahoga County's efforts to control crime.

I think one repeated theme in most of these "why wasn't this guy still in jail" scenarios is a complete and utter failure in the mental health sector of the rehabilitation system.

 

Sometimes, but not always.  When I moved back to Cleveland in 2007, Detroit Shoreway had a program called "Courtwatch".  They followed the status of crimes committed in the neighborhood & updated residents on the charges, sentencing, etc.  We had several instances of "repeat offenders" that were arrested for assault, drug activity, petty theft, etc.  Basic street thug stuff.  Through the Courtwatch program, residents wrote letters to the judges at sentencing, demanding the stiffest sentences.  It absolutely made a difference in keeping those thugs from coming back to the neighborhood, and it sent a message that our area was not a place to be a troublemaker.  Without the letter writing & presence of residents at the sentencing, the judges almost ALWAYS gave the lightest sentence, typically 30 days in jail, then released.  And those people came right back to the hood & caused more problems.

Oftentimes what happens is not that the guy gets 30 days in jail (although that might be all a generic community blotter watch might understand).  He gets sentenced to 3 years in jail and the sentence is suspended pending fulfillment of certain conditions..... such as getting a GED, getting and maintaining a job, etc.  This is a tactic used to help ease the overcrowding of the jail system.  The problem then becomes resources in enforcing the terms of the release.  The defendant might violate the terms the next day and a warrant will issue but he won't re-appear before the judge until he gets arrested for something else.  At that point, in all likelihood, the sentence will be fully imposed.  Maybe the residents of Cuyahoga County would be interested in beefing up the Sherrif's office so they can be more proactive in going after parole violators.  Again... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Perhaps.  The instances I recall writing letters for were all repeat offenders where you couldn't help but say "why isn't this guy still in jail"

Body of stabbed, beaten teen found in garbage bin on Cleveland's West Side

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Officials on Tuesday are working to positively identify the stabbed and beaten body of a suspected teen found tied up in a garbage bin Monday on Cleveland's West Side.

 

Police found the victim near the 3500 block of Marvin Avenue about 3:30 p.m. after they received a report of a stabbing, officials said.

 

The victim suffered multiple stab wounds and head trauma from being beaten with a baseball bat, police said.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/01/body_of_stabbed_beaten_teen_fo.html

I don't think i've heard of this happening before.

 

From their Facebook page.

 

"Our scaffolding was stolen last night from our property. This is really sad. This week they also stole our garbage cans."

 

https://www.facebook.com/HansaImportHouse

 

 

North Collinwood

Cleveland police investigating suspected homicide on East Side

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An unidentified man in his late teens or early 20s was found dead this morning in the 15300 block of Lake Shore Boulevard. He had been shot in the chest.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/01/cleveland_police_investigating_17.html

I feel bad for Hansa but its time ppl need to tighten up. Stop expecting this stuff not to happen. Minimize risk as much as you can. Scrap thieves will steal anything, need to have measures in place and be smarter than the criminal. Fake cameras with signs saying they are in surveillance would do the job

I feel bad for Hansa but its time ppl need to tighten up. Stop expecting this stuff not to happen. Minimize risk as much as you can. Scrap thieves will steal anything, need to have measures in place and be smarter than the criminal. Fake cameras with signs saying they are in surveillance would do the job

 

Start seriously cracking down after arrest as well, and this applies to crime in general.  There's somehow a belief that criminals are desperate people.  While sometimes true, the most prolific ones are better described as contemptuous.

I don't think i've heard of this happening before.

 

From their Facebook page.

 

"Our scaffolding was stolen last night from our property. This is really sad. This week they also stole our garbage cans."

 

https://www.facebook.com/HansaImportHouse

 

 

North Collinwood

Cleveland police investigating suspected homicide on East Side

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An unidentified man in his late teens or early 20s was found dead this morning in the 15300 block of Lake Shore Boulevard. He had been shot in the chest.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/01/cleveland_police_investigating_17.html

 

Right where Lakeshore bends, and Lakeshore is to some degree the border between the Villa Beach area and rougher parts.  It actually matters what side of the street this happened on.

I prefer my crime stories to include horses and trains

: http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/crime/2014/01/14/cleveland-police-on-horses-pursue-teen-downtown/4479629/

I prefer my crime stories to include horses and trains

: http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/crime/2014/01/14/cleveland-police-on-horses-pursue-teen-downtown/4479629/

 

Horses are invaluable when policing a downtown or other high foot traffic area.

Cleveland SWAT surrounds home after 5-year-old girl is shot, killed on West Side

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- SWAT officers surrounded a home on the 3500 block of Riverside Avenue Friday morning after a 5-year-old girl was shot and killed overnight on the city's West Side, police said.

 

About 7:22 a.m., police said the suspect was not at the home, and the suspect remains at large.

 

The girl and her mother, a 33-year-old woman who is being treated at MetroHealth Medical Center, both were shot in the head Sunday about 11 p.m. on the 12800 block Crossburn Avenue, according to officials.

 

The mother and child were sitting in a vehicle on Crossburn Avenue when an unknown suspect pulled up in a green SUV, got out of the car and opened fire, police said.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/01/cleveland_swat_surrounds_home.html

EDIT: moved my media critique to the appropriate thread at:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,10798.msg693267.html#msg693267

Cleveland SWAT surrounds home after 5-year-old girl is shot, killed on West Side

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- SWAT officers surrounded a home on the 3500 block of Riverside Avenue Friday morning after a 5-year-old girl was shot and killed overnight on the city's West Side, police said.

 

About 7:22 a.m., police said the suspect was not at the home, and the suspect remains at large.

 

The girl and her mother, a 33-year-old woman who is being treated at MetroHealth Medical Center, both were shot in the head Sunday about 11 p.m. on the 12800 block Crossburn Avenue, according to officials.

 

The mother and child were sitting in a vehicle on Crossburn Avenue when an unknown suspect pulled up in a green SUV, got out of the car and opened fire, police said.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/01/cleveland_swat_surrounds_home.html

 

Just north of I-480, I used to work in the big industrial campus right to the south.  Not a neighborhood where stuff like this often happens. 

 

And as it turns out, my sister in law and her granddaughter may have been going to Jermani's party as she was Zari's cousin.  The rumor has it the killer had a prior relationship with her mom. 

 

He's white, if that means anything.  Of course, it shouldn't.  This ridiculous culture of "death for dissing" needs to be stopped.  Somehow.

He's white, if that means anything. 

 

Only that the comments section at the end of the story on Cleveland.bomb has a chance to survive

He's white, if that means anything. 

 

Only that the comments section at the end of the story on Cleveland.bomb has a chance to survive

 

Got the POS.  My sister in law said some of the media was hesitant to post his picture, so I guess it's not just a race thing.  I found him on the Ohio Corrections website and had the screen cap up on my Facebook.

 

SOB had a problem with Jermani's grandma's boyfriend (IIRC) so he shoots up the car in the driveway.  :sheesh:

Town Hall Public Safety Meeting at Cudell tonight at 7:00.  I understand part of the focus is to be on the Gay bar incidents this summer.

 

http://www.cudell.com/

Oye, robbing people on the train reminds me of New York in the 80s.  5:45pm on a Wednesday?!  This is out of control.

 

Teenage brother, sister arrested after armed robbery at Cleveland RTA station

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – An officer arrested a teenage brother and sister after an armed robbery on an RTA rapid last week, according to police records.

 

An officer assigned to foot patrol on the RTA Red Line Rapid was inside a westbound train about 5:45 p.m. Jan. 22, when it stopped at the East 79th Street station. Across the platform, a train heading east pulled up. When the doors opened, three people – two teenage boys and a teenage girl - ran off the eastbound train toward the exit stairs. Another man followed behind pointing at them and saying they just took his cell phone, the report said.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/01/teenage_brother_sister_arreste.html#incart_river_default

Oye, robbing people on the train reminds me of New York in the 80s.  5:45pm on a Wednesday?!  This is out of control.

 

 

Nice to see that having boots on the ground made a difference--they were arrested immediately!

Nice to see that having boots on the ground made a difference--they were arrested immediately!

 

I'm friends with the guy whose phone was taken.  Like the article says, they didn't get the kid who actually took it, and my friend doubts they'll find him.  They didn't brandish a weapon or anything at him, either; it was just a snatch and run thing, and they found the gun after the fact on one of the other kids.  Still glad they got picked up, though

Oye, robbing people on the train reminds me of New York in the 80s.  5:45pm on a Wednesday?!  This is out of control.

 

Teenage brother, sister arrested after armed robbery at Cleveland RTA station

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – An officer arrested a teenage brother and sister after an armed robbery on an RTA rapid last week, according to police records.

 

An officer assigned to foot patrol on the RTA Red Line Rapid was inside a westbound train about 5:45 p.m. Jan. 22, when it stopped at the East 79th Street station. Across the platform, a train heading east pulled up. When the doors opened, three people – two teenage boys and a teenage girl - ran off the eastbound train toward the exit stairs. Another man followed behind pointing at them and saying they just took his cell phone, the report said.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/01/teenage_brother_sister_arreste.html#incart_river_default

 

The same thing happened to my niece, except it was on a bus, not a train.  Approximately the same time of day.

 

A big part of the problem is these juvenile cases disappear into the system.  I understand keeping defendant identities sealed, but the entire disposition of the case?

^^Why were they charged with armed robbery if it was a snatch and grab?

 

I was talking to a cop the other day who said mentioned how street crimes such as these are escalating out of control everywhere due to the fact that over 50% of people are walking around with a $400 piece of electronics in their hand that a robber snatch and run off with rather easily.  It made me think how you never hear of people's TV's/VCR's/etc. getting stolen anymore.  Similarly, I can't remember the last time I knew someone who had their car stereo ripped out.  Thieves don't need to go the trouble now that everyone is walking around with iphones, tablets, laptops, etc.

^^Why were they charged with armed robbery if it was a snatch and grab?

 

I don't know.  Ask the cop.  And just to reiterate, the kid with the gun was not the one that actually took the phone, either.  I have my own thoughts on the matter, but they'll probably take this discussion too far off topic

^^Why were they charged with armed robbery if it was a snatch and grab?

 

I was talking to a cop the other day who said mentioned how street crimes such as these are escalating out of control everywhere due to the fact that over 50% of people are walking around with a $400 piece of electronics in their hand that a robber snatch and run off with rather easily.  It made me think how you never hear of people's TV's/VCR's/etc. getting stolen anymore.  Similarly, I can't remember the last time I knew someone who had their car stereo ripped out.  Thieves don't need to go the trouble now that everyone is walking around with iphones, tablets, laptops, etc.

 

If you and/or a confederate have a gun in your possession when you steal something, that's armed robbery.  It may be the initial charge, to be plea bargained later, but that's the law.  It prevents the "I didn't actually display it" defense.

 

The cops should start sending decoys out with location tagged fake phones.  Otherwise, others just might start putting them out with some nasty surprises in them.

^I like the decoy idea. But could that be considered entrapment?

^I like the decoy idea. But could that be considered entrapment?

 

I don't see how when Vice does it with hookers.  I'm sure HTS121 will clarify shortly.

 

 

If you and/or a confederate have a gun in your possession when you steal something, that's armed robbery.  It may be the initial charge, to be plea bargained later, but that's the law.  It prevents the "I didn't actually display it" defense.

 

That makes sense, but it is a little more technical than that.  I am not having a brain fart this morning.  There really is no such thing as "armed robbery" within the ORC.  There is robbery and there is aggravated robbery.  A robbery charge can carry with it a specification (probably for sentencing purposes only) that the offender had a firearm on him (but did not display it) during commission of the offense.  If you have it, then it is robbery.  If you show it, then it is aggravated robbery.  It is also aggravated robbery if it is a certain type of weapon (a dangerous ordinance - assault rifle, bomb, etc.) regardless of whether you display it or not.  Sounds like the charge in this incident was robbery with a specification that one of the offenders had a weapon on him either during the offense or while immediately fleeing thereafter (if he has it while fleeing, then it is implied that he had it during the offense obviously).

 

 

Three teens arrested for Public Square beating

 

We're digging for more answers after the latest attack by violent teens downtown. Kenneth Matthews is out on bond and facing charges for alleged attempts to steal cell phones.  Recently, the RTA police busted him for trying to steal a woman's cell phone at the West 25th Rapid Station. Matthews is also charged for trespassing at Tower City. Records show he was hanging there after police told him repeatedly to leave. Ronald Reid Williams is also charged with the attack on Army vet Matthew Robinson.  A 16-year old girl, who police say videotaped the violence with her cell phone, was also arrested. Robinson tells 19 Action News he was jumped and racial slurs were yelled at him.  No one stepped in to help him.

 

http://m.19actionnews.com/#!/more-news-detail/24708361?orgId=68

Sad story.  Teens assaulting a disabled vet.  Nobody helping.  Videotaping the assault?  Sheesh

This did not happen on Public Square.  It happened at E6 and Euclid.  It's 19Action News' way of making a horrible story seem even worse.  Thankfully, at least two of the suspects are of legal age.

well, that's pretty close to public square, it's not like that's the fringes of downtown or something. I don't think placing the incident anywhere in particularly in the bustling area of downtown makes it better or worse, it's just horrible all by itself.

It's closer to E9th/Euclid or E4th than it is to PS.  And it makes a huge difference in terms of the claim that no one stepped in to help him and also the boldness of the attackers.  The video posted by 19ActionNews was titled "Public Square Assault"..... Ed Gallek stood on Public Square while reporting the story. 

 

Even still, police arrived in time (despite "no one stepping in") to stop the assault prior to the victim recieving any injuries which prevented him from jogging away from the EMS truck on the scene.  Luckily, it did not end up nearly as bad as the teen from a month or two ago who had to be hospitalized.  Obviously, either the police arrived very quickly, the attackers were not nearly as aggressive, or this vet (despite being disabled... PTSD if I had to guess) proved very capable in defending himself. 

 

NOTE: please at least attempt to intelligently digest my comments before responding with the standard "excusing poor behavior" response.  I have no desire whatsoever to marginalize the conduct of the suspects to any degree.  I'm merely commenting on the reporting style...... especially since this story has been picked up and spready by every racist website in the country.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/02/man_shot_on_clevelands_east_si_1.html

 

Did I just do cleveland.com's due diligence from a hotel room in Dayton?

 

EDIT:  I made a comment about Bugarcic's past incidents that was deleted.

The youth is very troubled these days. Things seem to be getting worse too. This generation is much worse than the previous.

 

"Three CSU students were walking in the area of E30th and Prospect. The students walked past a large group of approximately 12 black male/female juveniles. Five black male juveniles attacked one the students from behind and a wallet was taken. Two suspects were described as 15/16 years old, one wearing a pink hoodie and blue jeans and the other wearing a dark colored hoodie with an unknown colored zig zag pattern and blue jeans. The suspects fled south bound on E30th to Carnegie then east bound on Carnegie. "

^Every individual criminal event is horrible, but is there really any evidence things are getting worse?

More than a decade ago (mid-90s?), my friend's son and his buddies were robbed after leaving an event at the Wolstein Center after midnight. They walked through an alley off Prospect and that's where a group of youths robbed them. Sorry to see this is still happening, but you also have to be smarter and more aware of your surroundings in this no-man's land between the projects and downtown at such a late hour.

^^ Talk to any law enforcement officer and they will most likely tell you that today the youth is much more confident and not afraid of punishment.

^Could be, though if so, I would wonder if law enforcement has always said this, regardless of the actual trends. I'm open minded there could be something real here, but I don't think we've seen any evidence of it yet in actual crime stats.  I'm pretty sure Cleveland's homicide rate is lower now than 10, 20, or 30 years ago, despite the adverse selection that's resulted in a relatively poorer/more dysfunctional population. Admittedly, homicide rate isn't an awesome proxy for criminal propensity.

 

Of course, even if crime isn't getting worse, it's still too high in Cleveland and probably deserves more resources.

Hey, look at that.

 

http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/JAR_Display.asp?ID=qa05201

^The rise of cameras everywhere and in every pocket?  Whatever the reason good to see.

Hey, look at that.

 

http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/JAR_Display.asp?ID=qa05201

 

Well that's just the arrest rate. All that means is that juveniles are faster runners and therefore more difficult to catch! :)

The assault on the disabled vet has made national news.

The assault on the disabled vet has made national news.

http://www.19actionnews.com/story/24698051/mob-of-teens-attack-man-downtown?autostart=true

 

Here is a better news clip. Oddly it hard to find any local coverage other than 19 action news.

 

And these thugs need to be locked up for good! Stop the revolving door. And charge them with a hate crime while you are at it

We may hear about another incident near the Xecutive Lounge again. I live around the corner, heard what sounded like a gunshot about 15 mins ago. The police arrived shortly after and started to block traffic.

And these thugs need to be locked up for good! Stop the revolving door. And charge them with a hate crime while you are at it

 

Life without parole?  Why not just give them the death penalty?

 

Seriously, though, I hope hate crime charges are considered, but I don't see it sticking from the reports of the vet.  As much as the Jesse Jacksons (when the victim is  black) and Rush Limbaughs (when the victim is white) of the world would like to believe, hate crimes don't result solely from the assailant and victims being of different races.  Nor does it make it a hate crime when some racially insensitive remarks are shouted during a robbery/assault/etc (especially when shouted by people witnessing the assault.  For a hate crime to be charged, the crime must be motivated by the victim's race.

 

I hate that this is national news.  Why this and not the teen who was beaten nearly to a pulp the other month?  Probably because of the fact that (a) the victim and suspects are of different races and (b) he is a disabled vet, the latter of which I highly doubt the suspects were aware of.  On top of that, the vet really didn't seem to be physically injured and cops arrived in time to arrest the suspects and collect video evidence.  Take away (a) and (b) and this is not even local news.

 

^^ Talk to any law enforcement officer and they will most likely tell you that today the youth is much more confident and not afraid of punishment.

 

I talk to cops almost everyday and have done so for quite a long time.  Cops being pessimistic about the younger generation is no new phenomenon.  Were you alive during the 1980's when getting mugged was mocked in the movies as no big deal..... or during the 1990's when car-jacking or being killed for something as simple as your "Jordans" was an epidemic?  What honest and intelligent cops will tell you today is that one of the biggest problems is that thieves, especially around business centers and college campuses, know that there is a good chance that random victims are likely to have a $500 cellphone and a $500 tablet on their person.  You are also 'see' more crime due to the internet containing videos captured by cell phone, tablet, or surveillance cameras. 

 

Back to your point.... I've referenced this before, but I will circle back again to respond.  'Breakfast Club' was a 1985 movie which might have best defined a generation at that time.  Watch the below conversation between 'Vernon Davis' and 'Carl the Janitor'.... it really transcends generations and you can count on your kids and grandkids having the same conversation...