Thursday, June 6, 2024
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Volume 10, Issue YY
Amherst pays $90K to settle suit accountable for this atrocity — not a police officer, not the prosecutor,” Chandra wrote. Amherst Mayor Mark Costilow said Ohio Supreme Court eight years earlier. 12-year-old boy sit in his vintage 1970s Dave O’Brien The Community Guide he wasn’t aware a settlement had been “Since it is not a law, there is no charge. MG sports car outside the Dairy Mart on reached and had no comment on it. Amherst has paid a $90,000 settlement to Since there is no charge, there is no charge Cleveland Avenue in Amherst for 30 secNo disciplinary matters resulting from onds on Aug. 24, 2022. a man who was wrongfully arrested at age to be dismissed. Case closed,” Januzzi the August 2022 incident had reached his wrote in his ruling. Chandra said Margolis’ “kind and in77 in 2022 for a crime that didn’t exist. The $90,000 settlement was reached dur- nocent gesture” was reported to police by a desk, Costilow said. Donald Margolis, of Amherst, was The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District ing mediation in February before a federal witness. The boy was interviewed on video charged with criminal child enticement Court in August 2023, alleging violations magistrate. and told police nothing inappropriate had after being accused of trying to lure two of his client’s Fourth and Sixth AmendIn a statement posted to his website happened, but Margolis was arrested the boys into his car. next day and charged in Oberlin Municipal ment rights, false arrest, failure to train Margolis denied offering the boys a ride, on May 22, Margolis’s attorney, Subodh officers, intentional infliction of emotional Chandra, wrote that the $90,000 payment Court. Amherst Police Sgt. Brian Griffin said distress, attempting to influence a public settled his client’s lawsuit against Amherst Margolis was placed on house arrest at the time. “He denied he was going to servant and destruction of public records, Police Chief Mark Cawthon, police serfor 52 days, his wallet containing $1,300 do anything with them, and said the kids among others. geants Brian Griffin and Deven Small and in cash was seized by police, and he was wanted to look inside the car.” The lawsuit demanded all of Margolis’ officers Kyle Ancog and Jeffry Zemanek. ordered to wear a GPS monitor while The criminal charges were dismissed in $1,300 back, compensatory and punitive Chandra said his client is a married and awaiting trial, according to his attorney October 2022 by Oberlin Municipal Judge damages with interest, attorney fees and retired small businessman and U.S. Air and court records. Thomas Januzzi, who ruled that the law other costs and expenses. Force veteran who was wrongfully arrested “To the best of our knowledge, no one Amherst police used to charge Margolis had been deemed unconstitutional by the and maliciously prosecuted when he let a in Amherst city government has been held Contact Dave O’Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@
Charged 77-year-old man who let 12-year-old sit in his 1970s sports car
OHS grads told ‘finish what you start’ Carissa Woytach The Community Guide
OBERLIN — More than a decade since he crossed the stage at Finney Chapel, Jason Moore Jr. returned to give the commencement address at his alma mater. Moore, Oberlin High School Class of 2013, gave the commencement speech at the class of 2024’s ceremony on Saturday. Formerly an NFL wide receiver, philanthropist and model, Moore told graduates everything that has happened over the past 13 years is beyond them. “This is the next step,” he said. He thanked his mother for everything she’s done, and grateful for his family that taught him how to be wealthy in mind and spirit. “Those who know me, know the love I have for Oberlin, and those who know my family know the love they have for Oberlin as well,” he said. He imparted words of wisdom his mother and grandmother told him over and over: finish what you
Man who police chased for 2 days faces 13 charges basher. Attorney Kenneth A South Amherst man Nelson said who allegedly assaulted his client Lorain County sheriff’s is set for deputies and led local and arraignstate law enforcement on Dillion a two-day chase across the ment today in Common county is facing 13 felony Pleas Court on the felony and misdemeanor charges in Lorain County Common charges. Additional charges are Pleas Court. Matt Dillion, 32, of Wallu headed to a Lorain County Drive, was indicted May 23 grand jury from Oberlin on two counts of felonious Municipal Court, Nelson said, declining further comassault on a law enforcement. ment officer, one count of Dillion also has pleaded attempted felonious assault on a law enforcement not guilty in Lorain Municipal Court to a misdemeanor officer, two felony counts charge of sexual imposiof failure to comply, four tion, filed by the Mercy felony counts of obstrucHealth Police Department, tion, a felony charge of inducing panic, and misde- and was wanted on a warmeanor charges of failure to rant through Lorain Mucomply, criminal damaging nicipal Court for failure to and resisting arrest, accord- appear in court to answer for a misdemeanor speeding to court records. Bond was set at $250,000 ing ticket, according to cash by Judge Melissa Ko- court records. Dave O’Brien The Community Guide
COMMUNITY GUIDE
Oberlin High School’s Evan Hudson, fresh off two state championships in track, delivers one of three valedictorian addresses during the district’s commencement at Finney Chapel on Saturday. Read about his track championship on A6.
start. That mindset helped Moore overcome an early career setback when his leg broke during a scrimmage during his first regular year on the team at the Unversity of Findlay, after sitting
out his freshman year. “I began to question if it was even worth it,” he said after he was injured. “But I remember my mom and grandma telling me not to question why things happen to me, always trust
that God is working in your favor even when you feel like he’s not.” One day at a time, Moore went through physical therapy while at the University of Findlay. See OHS, A2
Retired deputy charged with kidnap, rape Dave O’Brien The Comunity Guide
A retired Lorain County sheriff’s deputy is facing felony kidnapping and rape charges in connection with an incident earlier this month. Charles “Chuck” Crausaz, 52, of Columbia Township was booked May 12 into the Lorain County Jail on charges of rape and kidnapping, both felonies, and misdemeanor charges of
domestic violence and using weapons while intoxicated. He was being held on $550,000 bond, according to jail records. Crausaz It wasn’t immediately clear when or under what circumstances Crausaz left the sheriff’s office, though sheriff’s Capt. Robert Vansant said Crausaz was retired
from the sheriff’s office. Defense attorney Matthew Bobrowski said he was aware of the allegations against his client but had not received evidence as part of discovery. He said the case was bound over to a Lorain County grand jury for consideration of additional charges, but had no further comment. Bobrowski also filed a bondreduction motion and asked in Common Pleas Court for an
evaluation to determine his client’s competency to stand trial, according to court records. Crausaz made headlines when he was shot and wounded in the line of duty during a December 2011 gun battle in LaGrange Township. An investigation revealed that fellow deputy Steve Fuller accidentally shot Crausaz once with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle as deputies exchanged gunfire
with Travis Stidham, who shot at Crausaz. Stidham’s shots missed Crausaz, who shot at Stidham with a shotgun and also missed,. Stidham, whose behavior had led family to call police, fled. He later shot and killed himself as a massive police manhunt closed in, according to reports at the time. Crausaz recovered and returned to duty, and Fuller was not charged with shooting his colleague.
INSIDE THIS WEEK Amherst
Amherst police blotter. A3
Oberlin
Historic house gets $740,000 grant. A4
Wellington
Two new principals hired. A5
SPORTS A6 • CROSSWORD A7 • SUDOKU A7 • KID SCOOP A8