Authorities investigating accused rapist Police and court briefs

Authorities are investigating whether an Arizona man accused of rape and murder was involved in the 1990 disappearance of an Elyria woman.

Lorain County Prosecutor Dennis Will said Feb. 14 that his office was “cooperating with other agencies” in investigating whether Samuel W. Legg III was involved in the disappearance of Angela Hicks.

Legg, 49, was Hicks’ stepfather.

The woman went missing in 1990 and was later found dead, Will said.

Legg is in the Medina County Jail on $1 million bond as he awaits trial in connection to a 1997 rape.

Police also have accused Legg of killing a 43-year-old woman in Austintown in Mahoning County, according to media reports.

Elyria man indicted in crash

An Elyria man was indicted Feb. 14 by a Lorain County Common Pleas Court grand jury in connection with a crash in Eaton Township, according to court records.

Brian A. Bichimer, 45, was indicted on two felony counts each of aggravated vehicular assault, vehicular assault, OVI and a single count of leaving the scene of an accident Nov. 1, 2018.

Bichimer is accused of fleeing the scene of the crash.

Court records indicate Bichimer was driving on state Route 57 near state Route 82 when he struck another vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle was transported to a hospital and Bichimer allegedly fled the scene, police said.

Woman causes drunk “commotion” at salon

A Wellington woman is accused of being drunk while enjoying getting her hair washed at a Westlake salon, according to a news release.

At 1:30 p.m., Feb. 11, officers responded to a hair salon on Detroit Road following reports of a customer who was drunk inside causing a scene.

Upon arrival, Westlake officers heard a commotion coming from the hair washing stations.

The 34-year-old Wellington woman told police she was causing a commotion because “it felt so good to get her hair washed,” the release said.

Salon employees told police the woman fell out of her chair during the appointment and struck her head on the floor.

The woman was arrested and transported to the hospital for evaluation.

She was later cited with disorderly conduct while intoxicated.

Shoplifter makes off with $700 in merchandise

The Westlake Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a shoplifter who stole $700 worth of merchandise from the GAP store at Crocker Park, according to a news release.

At 8:20 p.m., Feb. 11, the store reported a “tall male” in a black jacket with black/ grey jeans, a red hat and a large reusable shopping bag stole jeans and other clothes from the front of the store.

The direction of travel and the question of whether a vehicle was involved is unknown, the release said.

A surveillance video of the theft was given to police.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Westlake Police Department non emergency phone at 440-871-3311.

Men charged with felony possession

Two Avon Lake men are accused of felony possession following a Feb. 13 traffic stop in Westlake, according to a news release.

At about 9:35 a.m. a Westlake police officer stopped a vehicle on Interstate -90 at the Lorain County line for speeding.

The male driver said he was headed for a job interview with the passenger saying he was along for the ride.

A Westlake Police Department K-9 was utilized to sniff the outside of the vehicle, alerting officers. A search of the vehicle reveled oxycodone powder, crack pipes, multitudes of burnt foil, and a knife.

Both males, 22 and 20, of Avon Lake were arrested and charged with possession of dangerous drugs.

Man accused of stealing alcohol

A 47-year-old Avon Lake man is facing charges following a Feb. 8 incident at a gasoline station and is accused of stealing and consuming bottles of alcohol, according to a news release.

At 8:41 p.m., officers responded to the gas station at the intersection of Crocker and Clemens roads and met a clerk who complained the male inside the store broke a bottle of alcohol before taking a second into the restroom and consuming it, police said.

The man allegedly left the store without paying for either bottle, police said.

The man walked back into the store and grabbed a third bottle of alcohol and headed to the restroom when approached by officers, according to police.

He was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct while intoxicated and theft.

When officers discovered he was over 4.5 times the legal limit had he been behind the wheel, he was taken to the hospital for observation, police said.

Officers noted he was the same male taken into custody for his own welfare Feb. 9 after he passed out in a bathroom at a restaurant at Crocker Park.