Councilman Says He Chased Dollar Store Robbers Through Ward

METRO CLEVELAND, OH — A Cleveland city councilman recently recounted an intense pursuit he had with a pair of robbers in his ward, according to a Cleveland.com report.

Councilman Joe Jones got a call from a business owner in his east-side neighborhood who saw two men rob employees at a Dollar General store, he said during a public safety committee hearing a week ago. Jones said he took his truck and joined the business owner in a pursuit of the pair, following them to a home on East 142nd Street, because the business owner was told no police officers were able to respond right away.

During the pursuit, Jones said he witnessed the men rob another dollar store, according to the report.

The councilman said he eventually did convince the police to respond, but even after an hour-long pursuit, they were unable to catch the thieves.

Jones told Cleveland.com that the incident occurred in either 2018 or 2019. He said it illustrates the city’s need for a larger police presence on the southeast side. Read more from Cleveland.com

Wendy Park Bridge Work Begins

The first four sections of the new Wendy Park Bridge on Whiskey Island have been erected, Cleveland.com reported. The 14-foot-wide bridge is expected to be finished in the early summer, and when complete will be 500 feet long and span the lakefront Norfolk-Southern rail line.

The Cleveland Metroparks project is part of a series of trail segments designed to connect the Towpath and Lake Link Trail to the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway and Edgewater Park. Read more from Cleveland.com

Metro Cleveland Headlines:

• Northeast Ohio Native Among Fatal Victims Of Colorado Mass Shooting: Lynn Murray, 62, once called Mentor home, via Mentor Patch
• Akron Cops Seek ID Of Suspect Who Robbed 89-Year-Old Woman: The suspect was seen waiting for the woman outside a PNC Bank, via Fox 8 News
• Girl Scout Leader Accused Of Stealing $12,500 In Cookie Money: Jill Gauthier of Pataskala has been indicted on one count of theft in Licking County, via Fox 8 News
• Ohio Betting Big On Lordstown Motors’ Success: State officials have publicly lauded the company for the promise it brings to the economically beleaguered Youngstown area, via Cleveland.com

“Really avoiding those high-risk settings of people shoulder to shoulder in a warm spring break setting.”

-Dr. Joseph Khabbaza of The Cleveland Clinic, urging Ohioans to avoid spring break getaways this year

SPORTS TALK: The Cleveland Indians released a video a week ahead of opening day reminding fans to continue to take preventative measures against the coronavirus. “The Cleveland Comeback starts with you,” a video released by the team Wednesday, is more of a public service announcement than hype video. It urges fans to wash their hands, wear masks and social distance in order to allow Progressive Field to reopen to full capacity as soon as possible.

“Some things are better in person,” said one of the players featured in the clip.

WEATHER IN A WORD: Windpreps

LET’S MAKE PLANS: A Ruth Bader Ginsburg exhibit at the Maltz Museum in Beachwood has shattered the attendance record for the museum. It runs through Aug. 29.

• The field house at Kent State University is Ohio’s newest mass coronavirus vaccination site. The clinic will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Tuesday.
• Fish fry days return to the Prosperity Social Club in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood with takeout services on all seven Fridays in Lent.

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