A 32-year-old Cleveland woman is facing felony charges after police say she struck a man with her SUV following a verbal argument on Stratford Way in Willoughby Hills, then drove off without stopping. Cheyenne Raven Blunt was arrested on August 11 and appeared in court the following day, where a judge set her bond at $150,000 as the case heads toward a grand jury.
According to Cleveland.com, Blunt is accused of hitting a man with her SUV after the two engaged in a verbal argument, then yelling at him before leaving the scene. The man suffered injuries to his arm and neck, the outlet reports. Court records cited by the same report show a warrant was issued for Blunt on July 28, roughly two weeks before her arrest.
Blunt is charged with second-degree felony aggravated vehicular assault and fourth-degree felony failure to stop after an accident, per the outlet's report. A criminal complaint was filed in Willoughby Municipal Court, which holds jurisdiction over the case at this preliminary stage but, like other Ohio municipal courts, cannot try felony charges to final judgment — a role reserved for the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, according to the Willoughby Municipal Court.
Court Appearance and Release Conditions
Blunt appeared in court on August 12 and waived her right to a preliminary hearing, the report notes. Judge Marisa L. Cornachio, who has presided over Willoughby Municipal Court since taking office following her 2018 election, set Blunt's bond at $150,000, the outlet reports.
If released, Blunt must abide by a lengthy list of conditions: she cannot possess a firearm, must have no contact with the alleged victim, cannot consume alcohol or illegal drugs, must remain in Lake County, must wear a GPS monitor, and cannot operate a motor vehicle. With her hearing waived, the case has now been bound over to the Lake County Grand Jury, which holds plenary authority under Ohio law to determine whether to return a formal indictment for prosecution in common pleas court.
What the Charges Could Mean
The stakes are significant for Blunt if the grand jury moves forward and a conviction follows. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2903.08, a conviction for second-degree felony aggravated vehicular assault carries a mandatory prison sentence of two to eight years, along with a mandatory driver's license suspension ranging from two years to a lifetime ban, according to Ohio law.
The hit-and-run charge carries its own consequences. Ohio Revised Code Section 4549.02 classifies failure to stop after an accident resulting in serious physical harm as a fourth-degree felony when the driver knew serious harm occurred, carrying up to 18 months in prison. State law also mandates a driver's license suspension for any conviction under that statute, and judges are prohibited from suspending the first six months of that ban.
Willoughby Hills Police Lead the Investigation
The Willoughby Hills Police Department investigated the incident, which happened along Stratford Way, a residential corridor of townhomes and single-family homes developed in the mid-2000s. The department is led by Chief Matthew A. Naegele, who was sworn in as police chief in January 2021 after joining the force in 1999, according to the City of Willoughby Hills. Willoughby Hills officers also participate in regional multi-agency units, including the Western Lake County Emergency Response Team and countywide accident investigation teams, which can assist with crash reconstruction in cases like this one.
Several details remain unresolved as the investigation continues. It is not yet known whether toxicology or impairment played any role in the incident, nor has the alleged victim's current medical condition been disclosed beyond the reported injuries to his arm and neck. Whether the grand jury will return additional charges once police complete their investigation is also an open question.
A Familiar Pattern in Northeast Ohio
The case follows a pattern seen elsewhere in the region, where grand juries have frequently indicted drivers on combined charges of aggravated vehicular assault and leaving the scene after serious collisions. Hoodline previously reported on a Lorain County case in which prosecutors secured a multi-count felony indictment against an Amherst driver following a hit-and-run. Willoughby Hills has also seen other serious criminal investigations this year, including a July shooting at an apartment building that Hoodline covered separately.
