Loaded Gun Tossed From Bike Leads to Four Charges in Solon

SOLON, Ohio – A late night bicycle stop ended with a loaded pistol in the bushes and four charges for a Bedford Heights man, according to Solon police. The weekly update also covered a store theft, a scam and a harassment case. The incidents took place between Oct. 5 and Oct. 11. All charges are allegations, and anyone charged is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Drugs and Weapons Bike Rider Charged After Gun Found Near Sheetz A report of drug sales brought officers to the Sheetz on Cochran Road at 10:35 p.m. on Oct. 11. Someone told police a man was trying to sell Percocet pills inside the gas station. The caller said he rode off on a bicycle and headed west on Aurora Road. An officer found the bike a short time later. It had no red light on the back, which is required at night. The officer pulled the rider over. As the bike stopped, the officer saw the man toss an item into nearby bushes. A second officer searched the area. That officer found a loaded semiautomatic pistol. Police then learned a protection order from a City of Bedford case was active against the man. The order barred him from having a gun. Officers arrested him. They also found 12 pills on the man. Police suspect the pills contain oxycodone, a Schedule II narcotic. He had no prescription. He denied selling the pills. The 32 year old Bedford Heights man went to the Solon Jail. He faces these charges: Possession of a Controlled Substance (F5) Violating a Protection Order (F3) Carrying Concealed Weapons (F4) Tampering with Evidence (F3) Theft and Fraud Fake Cousin Asks for Investment Money on Instagram A 26 year old Solon woman reported a scam on Oct. 7 at 5:25 p.m. The report came from the 7500 block of SOM Center Road. She got an Instagram message from an account that looked like her cousin. The sender pitched a way to invest money and get more back. She sent $121 through CashApp. The account turned out to belong to a fraudster. She is now working to get a refund. Hobby Lobby Thief Hid $1,100 in Furniture Box Officers took a theft report at the Hobby Lobby on SOM Center Road on Oct. 8 at 1:20 p.m. A Solon manager said her counterpart at the Macedonia Hobby Lobby had called with news. Macedonia police had arrested a suspect for a Sept. 26 theft there. The suspect reportedly hit the Solon store too, on Sept. 21. The Solon store looked into it. Video showed a man open a box that held a large piece of furniture. He pulled the furniture out and left it behind. He then filled the box with smaller items. At the register, he paid $95, the price of the furniture. An audit later showed the box held $1,100 in merchandise. Employees did not see that the box had been opened. Solon police obtained a warrant for a 48 year old Newbury man. He is charged with Theft (F5). Harassment and Trespassing Woman Reports Ten Months of Lewd Messages A woman reported telecommunications harassment on Oct. 5 at 8:35 p.m. She lives in the 6000 block of Richmond Road. She told police an unknown man has sent lewd texts and made lewd calls for about ten months. She asked the person to stop. The contact continued. The messages came from several different phone numbers. Detectives will investigate. Sheetz Worker Arrested After Refusing to Leave A Sheetz manager called police on Oct. 7 at 6:49 p.m. She said an employee would not leave the Cochran Road property. The manager had told him to clock out after he would not complete work tasks as directed. He did not respond when asked to leave. Officers spoke with him and gave warnings. He still refused to cooperate. According to police, officers used force to make the arrest. That included pepper spray after he pulled away, struggled and resisted. Medical staff treated him at a hospital, and he was released. He was then taken to the Solon Jail. The 25 year old Warrensville Heights man is charged with Criminal Trespassing (M4) and Resisting Arrest (M1).