Elyria man faces felony counts

An Elyria man is facing felony charges after police say he was an accomplice who feigned an illness Dec. 12 in an attempted theft from Home Depot, 150 Market Drive in Elyria.

Michael J. Lopez Sr., 45, was charged with theft and making false alarms, both fifth-degree felonies, obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor, and failure to disclose personal information, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, according to an Elyria police report.

Officers arrived at Home Deport at 9:03 p.m. for Lopez, who was being treated by LifeCare and believed to be involved in a theft of the business, the report said.

Lopez refused medical treatment and also refused to give his identity, according to the report.

Home Depot employees said they saw Lopez, along with a short white male with dark hair, and a tall, thin white male with long gray hair, together in the store.

Lopez then separated himself from the other two and fell on the floor, holding his chest and rolling around, the report said.

While Lopez was on the ground, the other two starting putting merchandise, totaling $1,368.43, into a shopping cart, according to a report.

Employees followed the two men which prompted the suspects to abandon the cart, flee the store and drive away in a silver Honda Civic, the report said.

Lopez, who is in the Lorain County Jail on a $6,000 bond, must appear at 2 p.m. Dec. 18 before Elyria Municipal Court Judge Gary C. Bennett.

Suspect sought in knife attack

Elyria police are looking for a suspect who attacked a woman with a knife Dec. 12.

Officers responded at 11:18 p.m. to the parking lot at 990 E. Broad St. for a 33-year-old female, according to Elyria police Capt. Chris Costantino.

The woman was attempting to get in her car when a white male wearing a black and red jacket with thinning hair and glasses asked her where an address was on South Abbe Road.

She said he should use a GPS.

The suspect said he didn’t have one, so the woman opened up her vehicle and offered to look up the address on her GPS, Costantino said.

She told police she didn’t feel good about the man, so she took a pocket knife from the car’s center console and concealed it under her leg.

The male attempted to get in her car and she yelled for him to get out, then he produced a knife, Costantino said.

A struggle ensued, but the woman used her knee to hit her vehicle’s horn which caused people in the area to respond to the incident, he said.

The suspect then fled the scene on foot and was last scene going east in the 900 block of East Broad Street.

The victim suffered superficial injuries that did not require treatment at the scene, Costantino said.

Anyone with information should call Elyria police at 440-323-3302.

Man accused of making threat

A 53-year-old Avon Lake man is facing a felony charge after he allegedly threatened to shoot police officers Dec. 10.

Matthew B. Maxwell was charged with aggravated menacing, a fifth-degree felony, and disorderly conduct while intoxicated, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, according to an Avon Lake police report.

Officers initially arrested Maxwell at 1 a.m. at the 3rd Base Bar and Grill, 118 Moore Road, after he was involved in a drunken altercation, the report said.

Maxwell then called dispatch at 6 p.m. Dec. 11, allegedly threatening to shoot police officers who arrested him the night before, according to the report.

Maxwell was lodged at the Lorain County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Avon Lake Municipal Court officials have not set a hearing date for Maxwell.

SWAT team called to Lorain house

A SWAT team was called to a Lorain house Dec. 13 after authorities believed a parolee was holding people against their will.

Officers arrived at 7:30 a.m. to an Ohio Avenue home, after the parolee, a 47-year-old Lorain man, refused to cooperate with the Adult Parole Authority, according to Lorain police Sgt. Dennis Camarillo.

The man did not come to the door and police saw two women inside the residence, and they didn’t exit the home either, Camarillo said.

This led to the initial belief that the parolee was forcing them to stay, he said.

The man eventually exited the home around 9 a.m., was arrested without incident and will be charged with a parole violation, Camarillo said.