SUSPECT FOUND AND CHARGED

Elyria – The Elyria Police Department has charged 27 year old Marcus Thomas with Felonious Assault in connection to the assault on his girlfriend 26 year old Erika Malone of Elyria Sunday night.

Lieutenant Andy Eichenlaub of the Elyria Police Department said Police were initially called to the 200 block of Carol Lane for a traffic crash. When Officers arrived he stated they found Malone lying on the ground covered in blankets provided by neighbors who came to her aid. Witnesses told Officers the driver had fled on foot.

An extensive search of the area by Police throughout the neighborhood did not turn up the suspect at that time.

While Police were searching LifeCare Paramedics and Elyria Firefighters were treating Malone in the roadway for her injuries that we have learned included multiple stab wounds. While at the scene Paramedics requested a helicopter be dispatched to Elyria Memorial for Malone.

Shortly after LifeCare transported Malone to Elyria Memorial Hospital Emergency Room she was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

Throughout the evening Police continued their search for Thomas working on tips they were receiving.

At 1:39 a.m. Police received a tip that Thomas was hiding in the rafters of a garage in the 1200 block of South Abbe Road, just 1 mile from the crash site.

Police surrounded the garage with guns drawn and K-9 Stuka at the door. Several attempts by Officers to talk Thomas down from the rafters failed. Officers then entered the garage and began their climb into the rafters continuing to ask Thomas to give himself up. Even a blast of pepper spray couldn’t get Thomas to give himself up.

Once Officers made their way into the rafters they found Thomas lying down and were able to take him into custody without incident.

Officer transported Thomas to the Police Station where he was charged with Felonious Assault and then transported to the Lorain County Jail. Thomas will remain in the jail until his arraignment.

Police say the garage belonged to a friend of Thomas and that he had a key to enter the garage.


CRASH SCENE PHOTO GALLERY

SUSPECT CAPTURED PHOTO GALLERY