TWO MEN STABBED ON BROAD STREET

ONE MAN LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION

Elyria – Police were called to the area of Broad Street near West Ave at 3:53am Saturday morning after receiving complaints of a large fight. As Officers arrived they could hear shots being fired and saw people running in all directions from the scene, they also saw people ducking behind cars and in doorways in an attempt to avoid the gunfire.

Officers blocked off Broad Street to prevent people from leaving the area. With guns drawn Officers began searching the area and found 20 year old Dexter Fields of Elyria lying on the ground in front of The Toy Box Nightclub, bleeding profusely. A witness told an Officer that Fields had been stabbed, not shot and that the man who did it was in the parking lot across the street. The witness described the suspect as a tall black male in dark clothing with a white hat.

With the assistance from Lorain County Deputies who had arrived to assist, Officers ordered the suspect, at gunpoint, to the ground. Officers at that point took 18 year old Adrian E. Smith of Elyria into custody.

LifeCare Paramedics treated Fields for a puncture wound to his neck at the scene – he was then transported to Elyria Memorial Hospital. Fields was later flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

Witnesses told Police that the stabbing took place on the street in front of the Toy Box Club, not inside the Club. According to the Police, the witness stated that Fields was standing near the exit to the First Merit Bank Parking lot when Smith began walking up behind him to “sneak” him. It first appeared that Smith had punched Fields in the throat but when Fields turned around blood was pouring from his neck. Fields was brought to the Zulu Club to get him help and to prevent any further injuries according to witnesses. It was at the Club that a nurse, who happened to be there at the time, began giving care to Fields.

An Officer followed the trail of blood from the Zulu Club entrance towards the area of the Bank parking lot exit. The Officer located a black handled locking pocketknife on the sidewalk near a tree. The same Officer then located a second wooden handled locking pocketknife in the street, near the curb where the blood trail began. Police point out that this was the same area that Smith was seen leaving when the witness pointed him out.

Police Dispatchers advised Officers at the scene that another subject had arrived by private car to Elyria Memorial claiming to have been assaulted at the same location.

While Officers were investigating the scene they observed a woman approach the back door of the Police car that had the suspect, Smith, inside. Officers, concerned the woman might attempt to release the suspect, ordered her to step away from the car multiple times by several different Officers in quick succession. The woman, who identified herself as the suspect’s mother, refused to follow the orders from the Officers. She was taken into custody and charged with Obstructing Official Business.

The woman, identified as 41-year-old Jovanna Smith of Elyria, was issued a summons with a court appearance of February 18th.

Officers who went to EMH and met with the second victim identified him as 20-year-old Antwan Blake of Lorain. Blake told Officers that he was assaulted inside of the Zulu Night Club on Broad Street.

Blake told Officers that several subjects jumped him in the doorway of the Zulu’s Club. Blake said that he was walking into the bar and observed numerous subjects that did not like him because he was from Lorain. Blake said that a subject struck him from behind then numerous other subjects began kicking and punching him. At some point while Blake was on the ground being assaulted he said someone cut his hand with a knife.

Officers observed Blake’s face to be swollen and bruised. His left eye was nearly swollen shut and he had numerous abrasions to his face and head. He also had a large, deep laceration to his left index finger.

While a friend of Blake was attempting to get him into a car to go to the hospital people continued to assault him. Subjects then began breaking out the windows to the car. His friend then moved him to another vehicle and drove him to the Emergency Room. Blake was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland – he has since been released.

Officers at the scene collected shell casings; both spent and unspent, from numerous types of handguns. Even with all of the shots fired, nobody was actually hit.

After the Police concluded their investigation at the scene they had Firefighters return to the scene to wash down the blood from the sidewalk and street.

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