A routine traffic stop in Concord Township by the Lake County Sheriff's Office deputies turned into an arrest for felony firearms offenses last Sunday. As the Lake County Sheriff's Office Facebook page reported, 53-year-old Waldemar Antonio Quiles Acevedo of Cleveland is at the center of the case.
Acevedo was pulled over on Auburn Rd. Near State Route 44, around 12:21 A.M., due to several moving and equipment violations while deputies were carrying out proactive patrols. These are the sort of patrols that we've come to expect as part of local law enforcement’s ongoing efforts to curb criminal activity on our roads, and during a records check, Acevedo was found to have an active protective order against him, which led to him being flagged as "armed and dangerous." This necessitated a protective search of his vehicle, where a loaded handgun and a box of ammunition were discovered—a loaded handgun in a small bag on the center console and the ammunition in the glove compartment, which is a concerning finding considering Acevedo's prohibited status from firearm possession in Ohio due to his criminal history.
Upon questioning, Acevedo claimed he carried the firearm for "protection against gangs," but this did not change his prohibited status; he was booked into the Lake County Jail on multiple felony charges, including "Having Weapons Under Disability" (third-degree felony) "Violation of a Protection Order" (third-degree felony) "Improper Handling of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle" (fourth-degree felony), and "Carrying Concealed Weapons" (fourth-degree felony).
The seriousness with which the Lake County Sheriff's Office regards illegal possession of firearms was emphasized in the report, vowing to hold violators accountable. Lt. Zak Ropos, Road Patrol Shift Commander, reinforced this position in the message posted on their social media, "The Lake County Sheriff's Office takes the illegal possession of firearms very seriously and is committed to holding individuals accountable for violating the law," demonstrating the department's unwavering stance on firearm laws and their enforcement.
