Gift Card Demand in Teen Sextortion Case Leads Aurora Police Calls

A teenager being pressured for gift cards over private photos tops the latest incident summary from the Aurora Police Department. The log covers Oct. 28 through Nov. 3. Other calls include a resident who discovered 12 bad checks, a theft at Aurora’s outlet shopping area and a pair of warrant arrests. Below, NEOhio.news breaks down each call by category. Cases Involving Children and Teens Teen Told to Pay in Gift Cards to Have Photos Deleted, Oct. 29 Shortly before 6 p.m., a family walked into the Aurora police station with a troubling report. A juvenile was the target of sextortion, police wrote. Whoever was behind the scheme demanded gift cards in exchange for deleting pictures. During the visit, the teen told his mother he would harm himself if the images were shared. Police redacted the juvenile’s information along with the details of a suspect who has not been charged. Parents across Northeast Ohio can report sextortion to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Use CyberTipline.org or call 1-800-843-5678. The center also offers Take It Down, a free tool that helps remove explicit images of minors from participating sites. Father Reports Son Being Abused, Nov. 1 A father came to the police station at 10:19 p.m. with a report about his son. He told officers the boy was being abused at his mother’s home. Information about the juvenile was redacted, and the matter was sent on for a full report. Money and Merchandise Crimes Resident Discovers 12 Fraudulent Checks, Oct. 30 Someone cashed a dozen checks belonging to a Brighton Drive resident, according to a report taken at 9:25 a.m. The resident went to the police station to report the fraud. Investigators determined the checks were cashed on Oct. 28. Police gathered the details and wrote a report. Because the suspect has not been charged, that person’s name was redacted. Shoplifter Takes 10 Items From Nike Factory Outlet, Nov. 1 Staff at the Nike Factory Outlet on South Chillicothe Road called police at 1:03 p.m. about a theft from the day before. A man left the store with 10 items, police said. An officer collected a written statement plus a detailed receipt of what was taken. The case was then handed off for follow-up. Warrant Arrests Felony Warrant Turns Up During Stop at Michael Kors, Oct. 28 Aurora officers were with a man at the Michael Kors store on South Chillicothe Road at 3:34 p.m. A records check showed an active felony warrant for him. Officers reached the agency holding the warrant, which the log identifies only as CPD. Arrangements were made for that department to collect him at the Aurora station. By 4:10 p.m., the 21-year-old man was at the station awaiting pickup. Woman Taken to Jail on Misdemeanor Warrant, Nov. 3 At 3:20 p.m., police arrested a woman on North Aurora Road on a misdemeanor warrant. Officers drove her to jail after letting jail staff know she was on the way. On the Road Suspended Driver Ticketed at Fairview and North Aurora, Oct. 29 A 1:33 p.m. traffic stop at Fairview Avenue and North Aurora Road ended with a citation. Police cited the driver for driving with a suspended license. Officers had probable cause to search for open alcohol containers and a marijuana transportation violation. The search turned up nothing. Police explained both laws to the two people in the car and let them go. Threats and Harassment Mother Says Ex Is Threatening Her Daughter, Oct. 29 A woman on Timber Lane called police at 8:13 p.m. about threats her daughter was getting from an ex. She told dispatchers the ex had forced her daughter out of an apartment. Police also noted a lease in Cuyahoga Falls connected to the situation. Not long after, the ex phoned police with his own complaint. In his version, the daughter was stirring up trouble with a Cuyahoga Falls landlord. Officers pointed him to Cuyahoga Falls police. Aurora police also left a voicemail with the domestic violence prosecutor. However, the woman involved would not cooperate and asked that the man not be contacted. People in Crisis At-Risk Man Found Through AirTag and License Plate Camera, Nov. 2 Aurora police received an alert at 4:53 p.m. to look for a man believed to be suicidal. State troopers said a Flock license plate camera had spotted his vehicle heading east on Route 82. That camera hit came at 4:49 p.m. Soon after, the man’s father called with a lead from an AirTag. It placed his son at the outlets. Officers found the vehicle empty and then located the man inside the Nike store. Aurora police updated Jackson Township police, who said he could go if the welfare check went well. An officer later drove the man away from the area. His health information was redacted. Woman Transported After Talking About Self-Harm, Nov. 3 At 9:28 p.m., police went to Bryce Avenue on a welfare check. A man listed as her ex or current boyfriend reported that the woman had talked about harming herself. He told police he had not heard from her for about an hour. Officers made contact and