Natalie McDaniel, the wife of Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren, is scheduled for an arraignment today in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. According to Cleveland19, McDaniel faces charges following an incident where she allegedly trespassed into a private residence.
On July 30, surveillance video reportedly captured McDaniel entering a property on Coventry Road, taking photos of a sign advocating for Mayor Seren's recall, and breaching through the wrought iron front door without invitation. She was reportedly in the home for approximately 17 seconds and on the property for a total of about three and a half minutes. After the homeowners observed the intrusion on their security system, they contacted the Cleveland Heights Police Department. The indictment, coming down on August 8, includes a single felony charge of trespass in a habitation and a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespass, as reported by FOX8.
David Betras, McDaniel's attorney, has announced that his client will enter not guilty pleas to the charges. In a statement, an employee from Betras's office raised several questions, including the propriety of the investigation by the Cleveland Heights Police Department, the duration of questioning McDaniel underwent, and concerns regarding the seizure of her cellphone and potential alterations to the security footage. This news release indicated that a press conference is slated to follow McDaniel's arraignment to address these points in depth.
Amid this unfolding story, the homeowners have expressed discomfort in both their home and the broader community. They accuse Mayor Seren and his staff of disseminating "misinformation and outright lies in the media and to the community," as shared by Cleveland.com. Cleveland Heights Police Chief Christopher Britton told Fox 8 that his department handed over the investigation to the prosecutor's office, declining further involvement in the matter.
