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SATURday, March 19, 2011
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Crime decreases in Lorain
Serious offenses drop 13 percent compared to previous year
By ADAM MAWSON
amawson@MorningJournal.com
LORAIN — Much to the elation of city offi-
cials, Lorain saw a 13 percent drop in the
overall number of serious crimes in 2010.
“In almost all categories we’re down, and al-
most all are down double digits,” said Lorain
Safety Director Phil Dore.
In the statistics from the police department
provided by Dore, the city had seven murders
Comforting defeat
Elyria Catholic players Brittney McNamara, left, is comforted by Taylor Sieniawski as tears roll down her cheeks after their 53-49 loss to Oak Hill in
the OSHAA Division III State semifinals at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. For more on the game, see Page C1.
Former Perkins teacher suing over loss of job
By KELLY METZ
kmetz@MorningJournal.com
SANDUSKY — A former Perkins school district
teacher filed a $1.2 million lawsuit against Perkins
Superintendent James Gunner and school board
members alleging harassment and discrimination
Avon Lake church helping
Japanese disaster victims
By RON VIDIKA
rvidika@MorningJournal.com
AVON LAKE — When it comes to disaster relief
for the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan,
every little bit helps.
To that end, the members of Lake Shore United
Methodist Church, 33119 Electric Blvd., Avon Lake,
are in the process of assembling health kits to be
sent to the survivors of the March 11 disaster.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief is
asking United Methodists to provide the health kits.
“Lake Shore is part of the Methodist system.
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in 2009 and only three in 2010. In that two-year crime to the crackdown,” he said. “If you look behind bars and off the streets,” he said.
period, rapes decreased from 69 to 57, robber- at a lot of these categories, a lot of those things He added he is constantly impressed as po-
ies from 165 to 147, felonious assault from 157 we think are related to gang and drug activi- lice are able to quickly identify key criminals in
to 145, burglaries from 1,076 to 778, auto thefts ties. town, and therefore have an easier time finding
from 169 to 145, and larcenies dropped from “When you start to reduce your criminals in evidence against them.
1,532 to 1,485. town, your related crimes are going to start de- “I am absolutely amazed by the knowledge
Dore credited the drop in crime to the drug creasing,” he added. the police department and the detectives have,”
and gang sweeps conducted by Lorain police Dore said an important method has been to he said. “They know who the key players are. It’s
beginning in Feb. 2010. go after repeat offenders.
“We’re tying in a lot of these decreases in “We’re keyed in on getting a lot of these guys See CRIME, Page A2
Murder
suspect
back in
Lorain By ADAM MAWSON
amawson@MorningJournal.com
LORAIN — A man accused of
murder was returned to Lorain
Thursday and po-
lice are looking
for a fourth man
believed to be in-
volved in the
crime.
Donzelle Cros-
by, 20, of Lorain,
was extradited
from the Indiana
County, Pa. jail, to
Lorain City Jail Crosby
where he was
booked in on warrants for aggra-
vated murder and aggravated
robbery.
The warrants for Crosby’s arrest
were issued after the March 1 shoot-
ing death of Jason Smith, 28.
Smith was found by police in the
driveway near 511 W. 17th St., where
he had been shot after a robbery, ac-
cording to Lorain police Detective
Buddy Sivert. Smith was taken to
Mercy Regional Medical Center
where he died.
Jeremy Brown, 21, of Lorain was
arrested shortly after Smith’s death
at a Lorain Drive home. His bond
SPECIAL TO THE MORNING JOURNAL/ERIN PENCE was set at $500,000 and he remains
at Lorain County jail on charges of
aggravated robbery and aggravated
murder, according to court records.
Aaron Rodriguez, 20, of Lorain,
turned himself in to police the fol-
lowing day, but has not been
charged. Sivert said he remains un-
der investigation by police.
After the shooting, Crosby fled the
because of her age and her medical condition. the district until Gunner had been hired in 2008, area until being arrested by Penn-
Carol Smith, 72, began working with the Perkins she had been an exemplary teacher and never sylvania State Police March 11 near
Local School District as a business teacher in the faced disciplinary action, according to the suit. Blairsville, Pa. Police received a tip
high school in September 1976. She was also a In 1992, she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes that led them to Crosby, according
teacher at Briar Middle School. She was awarded
tenure in 1980, the suit stated. During her time with See TEACHER, Page A2 See SUSPECT, Page A2
Laura Below, 8, left,
helps Karen Maiers
and her brother
Landin Below, 6,
assemble small relief
They are asking for our help during disasters like kits, for the Japanese
the devastation in Japan,” said Linda Below, direc- earthquake and
tor of Christian Education for Lake Shore UMC. tsunami, with help
“As a church, we feel we need to do something from their sister
locally. This is one way the kids can help, with a Jenna Below, 3, right,
simple project, and feel that they’re making a dif- at Lake Shore United
ference with the folks in Japan,” said Below. Methodist Church
“The kits, using sealed, one-gallon plastic bags, yesterday in Avon
Lake.
contain items such as towels and washcloths to
sterile bandages and bar soap. They will be distrib-
MORNING JOURNAL/NATE
See VICTIMS, Page A2 PARSONS
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