What started as a routine sighting of a parked Mercedes in Berea ended with officers drawing their weapons, deploying stop sticks and pulling a loaded handgun and suspected cocaine from a car where a 9-month-old sat in the backseat, police say.
Last Thursday, Berea officers arrested a 31-year-old Cleveland man wanted on a weapons warrant after they reported finding a loaded firearm and about 15 grams of suspected cocaine in a Mercedes-Benz C250. The stop unfolded on West Bagley Road near Lindbergh Boulevard, where officers say they ordered the man out of the car at gunpoint. A 28-year-old Cleveland woman who was with him was also taken into custody, and the baby was released to a co-worker, according to police.
How police say the stop unfolded
According to the report, Berea officers first spotted the Mercedes parked in a driveway on Edgewood Circle off Race Street around 8:15 p.m. Police say one of the suspects looked toward an area inside the car where a handgun was visible.
From there, officers blocked westbound traffic on West Bagley Road and placed stop sticks under two of the car's tires. They ordered the driver out, but he initially refused and asked to speak with a captain, police said.
When officers opened the passenger-side door, they reported finding a loaded handgun. Police say they then searched the car and the man's belongings and recovered a digital scale, roughly 15 grams of suspected cocaine and $104 in cash. Neighboring departments assisted at the scene while detectives processed evidence, according to Cleveland.com.
Legal context
Police said the man was already prohibited from having guns because of his criminal history and was wanted on a weapons charge at the time of the stop.
Under Ohio law, “having weapons while under disability” is a third-degree felony, which can bar people with certain felony convictions or drug-related offenses from owning or carrying a firearm. The statute is outlined in Ohio Revised Code.
Child in the car
A 9-month-old baby was in the backseat during the encounter, according to the report. Officers allowed the woman to hold the child until a co-worker arrived to take custody.
Police also used an Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles photo to confirm the passenger's identity, according to Cleveland.com.
Not isolated
Authorities say this is not a one-off situation in Northeast Ohio. Traffic stops that turn up guns and narcotics show up regularly on local blotters. In March, Lake County narcotics agents reported finding a loaded 9mm handgun and multiple drugs while arresting a wanted federal fugitive, as documented by WOIO.
Departments in the region frequently coordinate across jurisdictional lines and use tactics such as stop sticks when they believe a stop could become dangerous, law-enforcement officials note.
Berea police took both adults into custody last Thursday. Court records will determine the formal charges and when the suspects are scheduled to appear. We will update this story when booking information or court filings become available.
