GOOD OLD FASHION POLICE WORK

Oh you can run, even through the woods and a river, but when you have Elyria Police Officers in toe, chances are they will get you. That is what happened Friday afternoon when Jeffery J. Grandberry took off from Elyria Police Officers Todd Straub and Aaron Varga on 15th Street near the Black River.

Grandberry fled from the Officers heading down below the 15th Street Bridge to the Black River heading southbound. Grandberry, with the Officers following behind ran through the river and up through the woods. Other Officers responded setting up a perimeter and assisting in the foot chase.

Officers were able to catch up to Grandberry and take him into custody along the east riverbank about ¾ of the way up the hill. Grandberry not pleased that the Officers caught up to him, refused to assist when the Officers tried to stand him up after being handcuffed. The Police report states that Grandberry was pushing and pulling against Officers efforts to assist him up the riverbank. Officers Marsico and Eichenlaub began helping Grandberry up the east riverbank when Officer Marsico lost his footing and slid down the embankment. Officer Eichenlaub assisted Grandberry the rest of the way up the embankment. Once to the top Officers lifted Grandberry over a fence handing him off to other Officers waiting on the other side.

The two Officers who first spotted Grandberry and gave chase were on Bike Patrol on the south side. Chris Baker, Director of South Elyria Neighborhood Development (SEND), said the Bike Patrols have made a huge impact in the community. “With drugs and street crime taking its toll on our community, the police bike patrol has been beneficial to our neighborhood in that they are able to see things at street level more so than the patrol cars. They, like the Neighborhood Impact Unit (NIU), are able move about so that they come onto the same playing field as the element they are meant to apprehend. It allows our police department the ability to be diversely defensive using every means and any means to ensure the safety of our residents.”

Baker said that residents on the south side love seeing the Bike Patrol and the Neighborhood Impact Unit (NIU) and want to see it run continually from April through November. “As long as the criminals are "taking it to the street" we as a city should have the means to continue combating it at the same intensity. As crime increases we need the ability to increase our police force to battle back.”

Grandberry was transported to the Elyria City Jail where he was charged with Obstruction of Official Business and Resisting Arrest.