Akron driver had .143 BAC, open beer in vehicle
A man was arrested early Sunday morning after being found unconscious in his running vehicle on the shoulder of I-271 southbound near Ledge Road.
Macedonia Police responded at 3:08 a.m. July 27 to find Mmassa Mwibeleca, 23, of Akron, slumped forward in the driver’s seat of a brown GMC Terrain with the brake lights activated. Officers had to turn off the vehicle and remove the keys while attempting to wake Mwibeleca, who had a noticeable line of drool and appeared confused about his location.
EMS evaluated Mwibeleca for medical issues but found no concerns. An opened bottle of Sierra Nevada beer was discovered in the center console, along with three sealed cans on the rear seat. Mwibeleca told officers he was “just beginning” to drink and had pulled over because he “had a lot on his mind” after leaving a Cleveland party.
Following failed field sobriety tests, Mwibeleca was arrested and provided a breath sample of .143 BAC at Macedonia Jail. He was charged with physical control and open container violations through Macedonia Mayor’s Court.
Multiple Shoplifting Arrests at Local Retailers
Nordstrom Rack, Kohl’s, Walmart hit by thieves using various schemes
At Nordstrom Rack, Valeriy Frunza, 46, of Seven Hills, was charged with theft after surveillance showed him swapping new Brooks trail running shoes valued at $96.97 for his worn shoes on July 24. Frunza walked into the restroom, removed security sensors from the new shoes, and left wearing them. He was identified through detective work and charged through Macedonia Mayor’s Court.
At Kohl’s, two suspects stole clothing, shoes and other merchandise worth approximately $490 before fleeing in a black Nissan Altima without license plates. The suspects remain at large despite Flock camera searches.
At Walmart on July 31, Dejaun Harris, 25, of Cleveland Heights, was caught “skip-scanning” at self-checkout. Loss prevention observed Harris scanning only some items while bagging unpurchased merchandise totaling $38.41. Harris admitted to the theft, citing fatigue, and was charged with theft.
At Nordstrom Rack on August 4, Geoffrey Lamalfa, 47, of Cleveland Heights, was arrested when caught returning to the scene. Officers found stolen merchandise in cherry-print bags in his Cadillac, which also had mismatched license plates. Lamalfa was charged with theft and possessing criminal tools.
Domestic Violence Arrest After Sister Throws Butter Knife
Mental health concerns cited in family dispute
A woman was arrested for domestic violence after throwing a butter knife at her sister during a family dinner argument on August 5.
Officers responded to Arbor Trails Drive where they found a 25-year-old woman had thrown the knife at sister Kaitlyn’s face, causing a small cut, after Kaitlyn poured red wine on the woman and her baby during a heated discussion about dogs in the house.
Family members told police the woman has bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, with increasing arguments recently. The father recorded audio of the incident, capturing the woman yelling “I am going to kill you!” before throwing the knife.
The mother expressed safety concerns about the woman being around her baby due to mental health issues. The woman was arrested and charged with domestic violence through Stow Municipal Court, with a referral made to STRIDE court for mental health services.
Two OVI Arrests Within Days Show Ongoing Drunk Driving Problem
Suspects had prior convictions, refused breath tests
On August 1, Demetris Hopkins, 37, was arrested after witnesses reported his black Toyota Corolla driving erratically on Route 8, hitting a sign and coming to rest at Bob Evans. Officers found Hopkins unstable on his feet with bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. He initially agreed to a breath test but refused during the procedure, saying “f*** it” and walking away. Hopkins was charged with OVI and refusal with prior conviction.
Four days later, Bradley Kuczma, 39, of Ravenna, was stopped for driving 51 mph in a 25 mph zone on State Route 82. Officers found Kuczma sweating profusely with dilated eyes and slurred speech, driving on a suspended license. Two open alcohol containers were discovered in his vehicle during inventory. Kuczma refused field sobriety tests and breath testing. He was charged with multiple offenses including OVI refusal and driving under suspension.
Both cases were processed through Stow Municipal Court.
Drug Arrest at Speedway Station
Man found with suspected methamphetamine in fanny pack
A Cleveland man was arrested on drug charges after acting erratically at a Speedway gas station on July 29.
Edward Chapple, 44, was found in the station’s bathroom appearing fidgety, nervous and sweaty. During a search, officers discovered a blue latex glove in his fanny pack containing plastic bags with suspected methamphetamine weighing approximately 0.7 grams total.
Chapple initially claimed he found the drugs on the ground but later admitted they were methamphetamine. The substances were sent to BCI-Richfield for analysis. Chapple was charged with drug possession and given a personal recognizance bond through Stow Municipal Court.
Police Assist in Mental Health Crisis, Chase
Officers provide mutual aid to neighboring departments
Macedonia Police assisted neighboring departments with multiple incidents requiring specialized response.
On July 27, officers helped Northfield Village Police with a welfare check where a man who made suicidal comments voluntarily went to the hospital for evaluation. Later that day, Macedonia officers assisted with an incident involving an autistic man having an episode at Subway, where family members were present.
On August 3, Macedonia Police assisted during a motorcycle chase when a rider fled Northfield Police at high speeds on Ledge Road before the pursuit was terminated near Freeway Drive. The suspect was later located at MGM Casino through surveillance footage.
Macedonia officers also assisted Twinsburg Police with a drug search that yielded suspected methamphetamine.
Civil Matter Resolved After Appliance Repair Dispute
Connecticut company agrees to refund deposit
A Valley View Road resident’s complaint about an unfinished appliance repair was resolved as a civil matter after police intervention.
Benjamin Batton contacted police about Appliance Repair Services Sure Fix, a Connecticut company that took a $110 deposit for refrigerator parts but never returned to complete the work after an initial $90 service call on June 18.
Officer Nicholas Szaibel contacted company representative Molly Johnson, who agreed to refund the deposit through Zelle. The case was classified as a civil matter requiring no further police action.
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