Lorain police, group working for safety of all

BOUQUETS >> To the Eastside Block Watch Program and Lorain Police Department for presenting the first Lorain Police Family Fun Night on Sept. 10 by welcoming the community to get to know their first responders better in an effort to keeping the community safe.

The event took place at the Lorain Senior Center.

Multiple safety service departments attended the Family Fun Night including the Lorain Fire Department, Lorain County Metro Parks, LifeCare Ambulance Service, Lorain Police SWAT and Lorain Police K9 Unit.

Lorain police Sgt. Jake Morris said the event was derived out of National Night Out, which was rained out Aug. 6.

Morris said he was grateful to highlight the work of the Lorain Police Department and partner agencies with a focus on building on and growing the event every year.

Lorain police SWAT vehicles and a K9 demonstration were some of the highlights with guests enjoying food and music while basking in the late summer warmth.

We applaud Eastside Block Watch and Lorain police for their efforts to keep the community safe.

BOUQUETS >> To the Latin American Motorcycle Association along with the Lorain Fire Department for giving Connor Rutledge, a 2-yearold Lorain boy, a surprise he’ll never forget.

On Sept. 6, Connor was waiting outside his east side Lorain home when a flurry of motorcycles pulled up along with Lorain Fire Department Pumper No. 4 leading the way with its sirens blaring.

The Lorain motorcycle club and firefighters gave Connor an early birthday fit for a champion.

Connor, who will turn 3 Sept. 14, was diagnosed with leukemia and neuroblastoma and has been hospitalized for much of his life.

Elizabeth Toro, president of the Lorain Branch of the Latin American Motorcycle Association, said, “We, as an organization, want to make whatever time Connor has to be, a happy one.”

Gathering for an evening ride, the cyclists arrived with loads of presents and a birthday cake for Connor.

Club member David Toro said the organization is working hard to change the negative perception that some have about bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts.

This effort certainly should change that perception in some people.

Good job.

BRICKBATS >> To Christian Martinez, the 21-year-old Lorain man who refused Sept.

9 to tell Lorain County Common Pleas Judge John R. Miraldi why he shot a woman six times.

Martinez’s bizarre behavior in this case resulted in his 14year sentence in prison for trying to kill the woman.

Martinez, who pleaded guilty to attempted murder and two counts of felonious assault, only shook his head and said if he knew why on Jan. 4, 2018, he shot the 54-year-old woman while she sat in her car on a lunch break in North Ridgeville, that he wouldn’t have done it.

Martinez did apologize to his victim before he received his punishment.

But Miraldi pushed Martinez to give some explanation on why he exited a car driven by 22-year-old Jonathon D. Barnette, approached the woman and opened fire.

During a pre-sentence investigation, Martinez said that he was addicted to Xanax, a prescription anti-anxiety medication, and had been arguing with Barnette prior to the shooting and felt he “needed to prove himself.”

But it’s still not clear what Martinez was trying to prove.

Well, he’ll have 14 long years to think about it.

BRICKBATS >> To Pierre Alston, the 39-year-old Elyria man who learned Sept. 4 that he will serve more than 14 years in a federal prison for peddling drugs in Lorain County.

Alston pleaded guilty in Ohio Northern District Court to two counts of distribution of crack cocaine, and single counts of distribution of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and distribution of heroin and fentanyl.

Alston sold various mixtures of drugs on Lorain County streets between July and October 2018.

The Ohio Northern District Court said the case was one of dozens prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, in which any cases involving heroin, fentanyl or any synthetic opioid are prosecuted in federal court.

Lorain County is one of 10 communities selected as a pilot for the operation.

And Lorain County streets are a lot safer with Alston behind bars.