RAVENNA, Ohio – The latest Ravenna police reports from Nov. 19 through Dec. 1, 2025, show officers handling a mix of school-related incidents, a serious juvenile felonious assault and robbery case, OVI and hit-skip crashes, drug arrests and warrant pickups.
For background on how the department is addressing recent critical incidents, equipment upgrades and staffing changes, see our recent council coverage:
Ravenna Council Meeting: Police Department Update, Cybersecurity Plan, Natural Gas Aggregation Tabled
Juvenile Vaping Incident Reported at Ravenna High School
According to an arrest report, an Assistant Principal at Ravenna High School on North Chestnut Street contacted the school resource officer on Nov. 25 after a teacher reported seeing a male student and another student passing something back and forth during class.
The administrator said a search of the student turned up two nicotine vape devices. The report notes this was the second time this school year the same student had been caught with a vape at school, and the administrator requested that the youth be charged as an unruly juvenile due to continued disobedient behavior.
The devices were turned over to police, photographed and placed into evidence. A summons for unruly juvenile was to be filed with Portage County Juvenile Court.
Juvenile Arrested After Alleged Stabbing During Vehicle Break-In
Ravenna officers responded to a report of an auto theft in progress on Nov. 28. According to the narrative, officers located a teen boy in the area and took him into custody.
While on station, the juvenile reportedly admitted to breaking into a vehicle in a parking lot and to attempting to break into another vehicle, which had damage to the driver’s side door lock and window area consistent with a screwdriver.
Another victim told officers there had been an altercation and that he had been stabbed in the leg with a screwdriver during the incident.
Based on the combined reports and booking records, the juvenile was charged as a juvenile with:
- Felonious assault with a weapon,
- Robbery (for allegedly inflicting or threatening serious physical harm),
- Criminal damaging, and
- Attempted additional offenses related to the second vehicle.
The teen was transported to the Portage County Juvenile Detention Center.
Hit-Skip Crash Leads to OVI and Related Charges
In the early morning hours of Nov. 22, officers were dispatched to a hit-skip crash on Elm Street in Ravenna. The victim provided video of a white Ford SUV striking his parked vehicle and then leaving the scene.
While officers were still on scene with the victim, one of the victims located a matching vehicle nearby. Officers found a white Ford SUV in a driveway on Clinton Street with front-end damage consistent with the crash.
The driver, a Ravenna woman in her 60s, told officers she was drunk and was not sure what had happened. The report notes:
- A strong odor of alcohol,
- Bloodshot, glassy eyes,
- Slow, slurred speech.
She admitted to consuming about five vodka drinks at a local American Legion before driving home and refused all field sobriety tests and chemical tests after being read the BMV 2255 form.
She was arrested and cited for:
- OVI – alcohol/drugs,
- Hit-skip on street or highway, and
- Operating without reasonable control.
She was processed at the Ravenna Police Department and then transported back to her residence.
Domestic Violence Arrest After Reported Altercation
On Nov. 28, officers were dispatched to a residence in a nearby township for a reported domestic incident. According to the report, a woman told officers that she and her husband had been arguing and that as she tried to separate herself, he continued to follow her.
She admitted to striking him in the face with a closed fist. The husband reported the same sequence of events.
The woman, an Atwater-area resident in her 20s, was arrested on a domestic violence charge and transported to the Ravenna Police Department for processing.
Disorderly Conduct Charge After Classroom Confrontation at Brown Middle School
On Nov. 20, officers were called to Brown Middle School on South Scranton Street after staff reported that a parent had entered the building, signed her child out, and then gone upstairs without authorization.
According to staff and video described in the report:
- The parent walked into a classroom while class was in session and loudly confronted the teacher about how her child was being disciplined and removed from class.
- Witnesses described the parent as yelling and using profanity both in the office and near the classroom.
- The teacher reported the parent walked well into the room, pointed a finger, raised her voice and insisted on confronting her despite being told to speak with the principal.
A student video showed the parent arguing with the teacher and refusing to leave when directed. The principal and office staff reported hearing profanity and comments about the school being “racist.”
The parent, a woman in her early 30s from Kent, was subsequently charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, through Portage County Municipal Court.
Traffic Stop Leads to Weapons Under Disability and Identity Fraud Charges
On Nov. 30, a traffic stop in Ravenna led to felony charges for a passenger.
According to the report:
- The passenger initially provided a name and date of birth that belonged to someone else.
- After officers determined his true identity, they discovered he had an active felony warrant for failure to appear.
- A loaded handgun was located, and the passenger was found to be in constructive possession of the weapon.
- The passenger later admitted the gun belonged to him.
The man, a 19-year-old from Cleveland, was charged with:
- Having weapons while under disability (F-3), and
- Identity fraud (F-5).
Obstructing Official Business During Traffic Stop
On Nov. 22, a passenger in a vehicle stopped in Ravenna was charged with obstructing official business.
The report states that:
- A free-air K‑9 sniff around the vehicle indicated a possible presence of narcotics.
- When told to step out of the vehicle, the passenger repeatedly refused to exit.
- After an officer opened the door, the passenger finally exited but resisted being handcuffed, keeping his arms away from officers.
He was detained and charged with obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor, and taken directly to the Portage County Justice Center.
Drug Possession Cases Tied to Traffic Stops and Warrant Checks
Several drug-related cases were documented in the reports:
-
Ravenna man arrested on warrant, drugs found:
While on patrol, an officer recognized a Ravenna man walking in the area and confirmed through the in-car computer that he had an active misdemeanor warrant through RPD.
During the encounter, the man passed a pouch to a woman who later said it was not hers. A search produced drug paraphernalia and a bag of white powder. A field test indicated methamphetamine.
The man was processed and charged with possession of drugs (F-5) and transported to the Portage County Justice Center. -
Traffic stop from known drug location, meth pipe found:
In another case, an officer stopped a vehicle with no county sticker as it left a known drug apartment. The driver, a woman in her early 40s, was found with two glass pipes in her purse. A field test on residue returned a positive for methamphetamine.
She was charged with possession of drugs (F-5) and a minor-misdemeanor display of plates violation, and transported to jail.
OVI Arrest After .129 Breath Test
On Nov. 27, a driver stopped in Ravenna was arrested for OVI after officers observed signs of impairment.
The report states:
- The driver submitted to a breath test and registered 0.129 g/210L, above Ohio’s legal limit.
- He was charged with OVI – alcohol/drugs, including a “per se” breath test specification.
The driver, a 25-year-old man from Garretsville, was released after processing.
Protection Order Violation Alleged During Traffic Stop
During a traffic stop for an equipment violation on Nov. 28, officers identified a male passenger and checked his status through LEADS.
The report says:
- The driver of the vehicle had an active protection order against the male passenger.
- The passenger was taken into custody for violating that order.
He was charged with violating a protection order or consent agreement and transported to the justice center after processing.
Unruly Juvenile Case at Brown Middle School
In addition to the adult disorderly conduct case, police also handled juvenile behavior issues tied to local schools.
In one case, an unruly juvenile report was filed after a middle-school student was accused of repeated disobedient behavior and possession of contraband. The school administration requested formal charges so the case could be brought before Portage County Juvenile Court.
Multiple Warrant Arrests and Jail Transfers
Throughout the Nov. 19–Dec. 1 period, Ravenna officers also assisted other agencies with warrant arrests:
- Several individuals were taken into custody on felony and misdemeanor warrants from other jurisdictions, including Garfield Heights, Strongsville and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office.
- In some cases, Ravenna officers encountered individuals during traffic stops or while on patrol, confirmed warrants through dispatch, and then transported the individuals to meeting locations where custody was transferred to the requesting agencies.
- Other warrant subjects were located at Ravenna residences following prior intelligence that they were wanted on felony protection order or failure-to-appear warrants.
These warrant pickups reflect the department’s ongoing role in regional law enforcement cooperation, working closely with other agencies and the county jail.
Related Coverage
For more on how the police department is addressing officer wellness, training, drones, the Flock camera system and staffing increases, read:
Ravenna Council Meeting: Police Department Update, Cybersecurity Plan, Natural Gas Aggregation Tabled
Discover more from Northeast Ohio News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
