A tense love-triangle confrontation outside a Solon home ended with a man and his mother in handcuffs after police say he came to the door with a rifle and threatened to kill two women who had shown up to confront him.
Police Response and Arrests
Officers were called to a disturbance in the 33000 block of Linden Drive around 6:20 p.m. on June 7, where they arrested a 32-year-old man after the encounter. He was booked on charges of aggravated menacing and obstructing official business, while his 54-year-old mother was also arrested on an obstruction charge, according to Cleveland.com.
How the Confrontation Unfolded
The two women told officers they went to the house after discovering they were both dating the man, seeking answers and money for a car he allegedly damaged in Cleveland. Police say the confrontation escalated when the man came outside with a rifle and threatened to kill them.
According to police accounts, the man’s mother joined the fray, allegedly throwing a chair, a bag of charcoal, and a chimney starter at the women. Both the man and his mother then stayed inside the home and initially only spoke with officers by phone.
Weapons Recovered and Surveillance
Officers later found a loaded rifle and a shotgun inside a closet in the man’s bedroom. Investigators reviewed surveillance video, which showed the rifle strapped across the man’s chest and not pointed at anyone, according to Cleveland.com. Police also said the man warned he would be outside on foot when told a SWAT team might be called.
Legal Implications
Aggravated menacing is defined under ORC 2903.21, while obstructing official business is set out in ORC 2921.31. The statutes detail what prosecutors must prove in court. The man and his mother are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
How to Contact Police
Solon police are asking anyone with additional information about the incident to call the department’s nonemergency line at (440) 248-1234 or contact the records division at (440) 349-3699, according to the Solon Police Department website. Residents who want copies of incident reports can follow the public records instructions posted there.
