BURGLARY SUSPECT ARRESTED

Elyria Police were called to a home on 8th Street this afternoon on a Domestic Violence call. When the Police arrived they got more then they bargained for.

Police arrested Joe Chavez on Domestic Violence charges after he fought with his girlfriend at the home. The homeowner, who has been friends with the victim for 20 years, said that the fight started because Chavez was told he had to move out because he was bringing stolen merchandise into the home. “Once I found out what he was doing I told her (the victim) that he had to go so she told him this morning. He told her that he wasn’t going anywhere and started eating his cereal. She was so upset she started throwing the stolen stuff out the back door and that is when he went after her.” The homeowner’s son came to the defense of the victim trying to hold him back. Chavez was injured when a wooden eagle fell off a shelf and struck him in the head. Police had LifeCare Paramedics come check Chavez out but he refused all treatment and transport. The homeowner told us that Chavez would travel around in his pick up truck with a lawn mower on the back searching for new homes to break into. “We always thought that he made his money cutting lawns but now we see what he was really doing. What you are seeing on the driveway right now is just a small portion of what this guy has stolen. There are all sorts of expensive jewelry, iPods, Game Boys and all other kinds of stuff.”

During the search of merchandise the Elyria Police contacted North Ridgeville Police Department and quickly connected some of the stolen property to a break in yesterday at the Dettore Farm in North Ridgeville. North Ridgeville Officers and Detectives responded to the scene on 8th Street today with Dettore family members arriving a short time later to sort through the items.

North Ridgeville Police say that they received a call yesterday of a break in at a home on the property of the Dettore Farm. At first they believed that a resident came home and found the suspect still inside. North Ridgeville Police and Officers from the Fugitive Task Force responded and surrounded the home but no suspect was found.

Elyria Police took Chavez into custody on the Domestic Violence charge and his truck was impounded for further investigation. Elyria Police Detective Bureau is working closely with Detectives from North Ridgeville on this case.