Cleveland police say the mystery vandal who pummeled the Huntington Convention Center with bricks and left a trail of broken glass across downtown is now in custody, accused of causing nearly $92,000 in damage to the showcase venue on Lakeside Avenue.
The attacks shattered multiple windows, badly damaged two exterior doors, and left metal fasteners scattered across the driveway, turning a high-profile convention complex into a very expensive repair project, according to the Cleveland Division of Police.
In a post published April 23, 2026, the Cleveland Division of Police said investigators identified a suspect, obtained a warrant, and took that person into custody. The department put the total estimated damage at $91,800. Surveillance footage from April 14 allegedly shows the suspect hurling multiple bricks at the building before driving off, and Third District detectives, including Detective Barnett, were assigned to lead the case.
Damage detailed across late March and April
Police say officers first responded to reports of property damage at 300 Lakeside Avenue on March 28. That address is the Huntington Convention Center’s downtown campus, a large glass-front facility that links to the Hilton hotel and public auditorium. The venue’s official site, the Huntington Convention Center, highlights its expansive Lakeside Avenue footprint and event spaces, which helps explain how broken glazing and battered doors quickly added up to a steep repair bill.
Investigation and arrest
According to the police post, roughly ten windows were shattered on April 14. Two exterior doors were damaged in the March 28 incident, each with an estimated repair cost of $12,000. Officers also documented an April 17 case in which screws were scattered across the Lakeside Avenue driveway in what appeared to be an attempt to cause even more disruption.
The post identifies the arrested individual as Blandin Metani and states that he has been taken into custody and will be adjudicated in Cuyahoga County Court, per the Cleveland Division of Police. The county’s public site, Cuyahoga County, lists the downtown justice center and county court facilities at 1200 Ontario Street in Cleveland.
Police did not release additional charging documents in the post, and the investigation remains active while detectives continue to follow leads. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cleveland Division of Police Third District or submit tips through official channels.
