Blind man hit by county worker sues

ELYRIA - A blind man who was walking his dog when he was struck by a drunken county worker driving a county vehicle two years ago has filed a lawsuit against the county commissioners and the former employee.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in county Common Pleas Court, accuses the commissioners of negligence for employing Kirk Stewart at the county Prosecutor`s Office.

Richard Walker was struck in front of the Abbe Road apartment complex where he lives by a 2003 Dodge Caravan driven by Stewart at about 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 17, 2005.

Stewart, who pleaded guilty to a drunken driving charge in connection with the accident, had a blood alcohol level of 0.145, nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08.

The lawsuit said Walker continues to suffer from the injuries he sustained in the accident and asks for more than $250,000 in damages.

Stewart, 51, resigned his post overseeing the vehicles and equipment in the Prosecutor`s Office the day after the accident. He said at the time he had a drinking problem and sought help.

Cruiser window kicked out in dispute

LORAIN - An enraged man kicked through a police car window Wednesday morning after an ongoing property dispute, according to a Lorain police report.

Jorge Marrero, 22, of Lorain, was charged with criminal damaging and vandalizing government property and was taken to the county jail on $2,500 bond.

Police were called at 9:37 a.m. to the 1300 block of Massachusetts Avenue, where Marrero was moving out. The report said he started destroying items in the home while police were outside, including pouring soda over the seat cushions of the living room couch. Then he left the house, removed speakers from his ex-girlfriend`s car and disconnected the car battery, the report said.

When he was handcuffed and placed in a police car, Marrero kicked the passenger`s side window until an officer threatened to stun him with a Taser, the report said. Marrero kicked once more, breaking the window and trim out of the car door, according to the report.

Drunken people found out in road

LORAIN - Police found several highly intoxicated people out in the road at 4:36 a.m. Wednesday after a road rage incident in the middle of an intersection, according to a Lorain police report.

A white Jeep Cherokee and black Ford were parked in the intersection of West 28th Street and Oakdale Avenue with doors wide open, surrounded by people who were screaming and running around, the report said.

The vehicles had stopped after one cut the other off, and the passengers had piled out to fight each other, police said.

Brandi Smarr, 20, of Lorain, was taken to Community Regional Medical Center for treatment because she was too intoxicated to stand. While there, she spit and yelled at staff and attempted to punch a nurse, the report said.

She was charged with possession of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, underage consumption of alcohol and disorderly conduct. She also had active warrants for burglary and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, according to a police report.

Hunter who fell in fair condition

BROWNHELM TWP. - A Wakeman hunter who was injured Wednesday after falling from a tree stand was listed in fair condition Friday at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Marshall “Steven” Bland, 32, was bow hunting on his family`s property along North Ridge Road when he tumbled through the branches and down an embankment, according to Vermilion fire officials.

Firefighters located a conscious Bland about 6 p.m. and had to strap him to a backboard before hauling him 100 yards up the wall of a steep ravine near Mill Hollow.

He was flown by helicopter to MetroHealth, where he remained Friday.

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