Councilman Polensek Praises Police Work in Arrest of Double Homicide Suspect

CLEVELAND, OH - From the desk of the Cleveland Police Department: Councilman Michael Polensek today praised the work of Cleveland police, U.S. Marshall Pete Elliot and the U.S. Marshall Fugitive Task Force in the arrest of a suspect relating to the Good Friday killings of Michael Kuznik and Trina Tomola.Michael and Trina were fatally shot inside the office of Mr. Cars, a car lot they owned on East 185th Street and Hiller Avenue.

Joseph McAlpine, 29, has been arrested in connection with this double homicide. McAlpine had served nine years in prison for aggravated robbery and was released in August 2016. He is an alleged member of the Heartless Felons street gang. He lists multiple addresses from Cleveland’s east and west sides.

Cleveland’s Homicide Unit had processed over a hundred pieces of evidence between the dealership office, the stolen 2006 BMW, which was recovered on Cleveland’s west side, and other related material. From the information gathered along with tips from Crime Stoppers, McAlpine was arrested and is in custody. The Homicide Unit believes that there is at least one other involved, if not more, in this horrendous act of violence which was perpetrated on Good Friday, April 14, 2017.

We, in the Collinwood community, never stopped praying for Mike and Trina, their children and their families. I hope many of you know now why I could not give more in depth information about this investigation at our neighborhood meetings. I knew Homicide was working on strong tips and other information which could not be divulged publicly. Let’s hope and pray the CPD and the U.S. Marshall is able to arrest the other perpetrator(s).

Furthermore, let’s continue to pray that CPD finds the murderer of Mr. Stephen Halton, another resident of our neighborhood who was brutally murdered on Lakeshore Boulevard over two years ago while attempting to report to the Cleveland Clinic to assist in a surgical procedure. His family and our community has never stopped grieving over his brutal murder and loss. We will not until his murder(s) is arrested and charged.

Let’s send a message to anyone and anybody who wishes to perpetrate violent criminal acts upon our community and our residents that we will never rest until you are brought to justice. For, we are Collinwood Proud and Collinwood Strong. We refuse to give in or give up!

Contact: Councilman Michael Polensek , 216-664-4236 or cell 857-7363.

Image via Pixabay