CLEVELAND -- The FOX 8 I-Team has learned burglars took weapons and computer equipment from the home of an officer arrested earlier this week for trying to kidnap a 12-year-old girl.

Patrol Officer Solomon Nhiwatiwa was arrested Tuesday by the Euclid Police Department and his home was broken into Thursday, according to a Cleveland police report.

According to the report, neighbors notified police that someone was in the home around 10 Thursday morning.

When police arrived no one was there. The report states items that were taken include guns, ammunition, knives, a computer hard drive and flash drive, a cell phone and a computer tablet.

A duffle bag was found not far from the home that contained some of the items, the report states.

The officer has been in jail since his arrest.

Nhiwatiwa was arrested on several charges including criminal child enticement, disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, pandering obscenity, public indecency, endangering children, assault and attempted interference with custody.

He is due in court Monday.

Sources close to the investigation say the burglary at Nhiwatiwa’s home just 48 hours after his arrest adds to the mystery surrounding this unusual case.

**Watch a past report in the video, above; read more, HERE**

CLEVELAND - A grandmother says she was treating her 4-year-old grandson to a ride in her new car August 18, when she drove past city public power workers and an electrical line fell and damaged the vehicle.

"I had the car for just four days," said Dawn Lunato. "I was in shock and scared when the line crashed on our car. Luckily, it wasn't live. But it scratched up the car."

There are scratches on the passenger side door, hood and trunk.

Lunato got estimates and it will cost more than $2,000 to repair.

"The city wants me to file a claim with my insurance and pay the deductible," Lunato said. "They will then do an investigation and if they find they were at fault they will reimburse my deductible. My insurance company says if I file the claim my rates will go up. Why should I be out this money when I did nothing wrong?"

City officials told the FOX 8 I-Team that is their policy and they will try and complete the investigation in 90 days or sooner.

"I think that's wrong," Lunato said. "That policy should change."

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Mario Lozada was sentenced to 8 years Tuesday on charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor.

The former Cleveland patrol officer was arrested by Garfield Heights in November of 2018.

He was found in a car with a 15-year-old girl and a gun.

Mario Lozada

He was an officer at the time and had been with the Cleveland Police Department for 26 years.

He pleaded guilty to the charges last month.

In his sentencing hearing, Lozada's attorney said he received an award for heroism in the past.

He is married and has an 18-year-old.

He says he has been going to counseling and is very sorry for his actions.

Prosecutors said he used his position as a police officer to gain the trust of young girls.

Mothers of two victims addressed the court.

One mother read a letter from her daughter.

"I feel used and lied to and completely taken advantage of...you knew I was desperate enough to do things to get what I needed."

The victim says he gave her marijuana and alcohol and waited down the street for her to sneak out of the house.

"Despite the fact that you are a cop and a father, you are just a human being who I believe knows better and should have done better," she read in the statement.

"I would go as far as saying you are a manipulative pedophile."

Lozada apologized and cried during the hearing.

He apologized to the victims, his family and the Cleveland Police department.

"I really apologize for everything I did," he said.

The judge ordered Lozada to apologize to his father.

"I'm sorry I put you through this," he said, crying. "I really am."

His father spoke during the sentencing and apologized for his son's actions.

Continuing coverage here.

SANDUSKY, Ohio– A week after the FOX 8 I-Team did a story about a tier III sex offender being arrested on gross sexual imposition charges involving an 11-year-old girl, the sheriff admits his agency did not properly notify community members.

Erie County Sheriff Paul Sigsworth said his office should have sent out letters to neighbors living near Darius Knight.

“I am very disappointed this was not done right and I am doing an internal investigation to find out why,” Sigsworth told the I-Team. “I went to the neighborhood where this happened and apologized.”

“We are going to correct this and do everything we can to make sure it never happens again.”

Last week, Sandusky police arrested Knight in connection with the sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl, who knocked on his door while collecting money for an organization. Knight, 30, is charged with gross sexual imposition, unlawful restraint and resisting arrest.

Police reports stated Knight told the girl to come inside and then he locked the door. He is accused of improperly touching her.

Knight denied the allegations and insisted he did nothing wrong. He is being held in the Erie County jail.

Knight was sentenced to five years in prison in 2011 on an attempted rape charge. He is still on parole for that case.

SANDUSKY, Ohio - A hearing was held Wednesday in Sandusky for a registered sex offender who faces several charges in connection with the sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl.

Darius Knight, 30, is charged with gross sexual imposition, unlawful restraint and resisting arrest.

The incident happened earlier in August.

"This young girl was out fundraising when she knocked on the door of his home," said Sandusky Police Sgt. Kevin Youskievicz told the FOX 8 I-Team.

Darius Knight

Police reports stated Knight told the girl to come inside and then he locked the door. He is accused of improperly touching her.

Knight denied the allegations and insisted he did nothing wrong.

He is being held in the Erie County jail.

This is not the first time Knight has been arrested. He was sentenced to five years in prison in 2011 on an attempted rape charge. He is still on parole for that case.

Continuing coverage here.

CLEVELAND – A 19-year-old man has been indicted on several charges, including murder and assisted suicide in connection with the death of a teen.

The teen died in the Cleveland Metroparks in July.

Duncan McElroy was arrested July 13, the day after the victim’s death. He has been released on a $50,000 bond and is on a GPS monitoring device.

According to a Cleveland Metroparks police report on July 12, McElroy called 911 to report the death of a juvenile friend, who was located in the Brecksville Reservation of Cleveland Metroparks, in Brecksville.

Brecksville police officers and Cleveland Metroparks police officers responded to the scene and located McElroy and the deceased juvenile in the park.

McElroy first reported to the 911 dispatcher and first responders that the juvenile stole the rifle from the back seat of his vehicle, while he was stopped along the edge of the road, the report states.

During an initial interview, McElroy reported to police that he purchased the rifle that day, before picking up the victim from another location in the Cleveland Metroparks. Police stated he provided inconsistent statements regarding the circumstances surrounding this event and his purchase of the rifle.

Reports further state McElroy later stated that he purchased the rifle at Stonewall in Broadview Heights on July 12. He then purchased a box of ammunition in a separate purchase and provided the rifle and ammunition to his friend, who was sitting in his vehicle at the time of the purchase.

Details surrounding the death have not been released.

“Our hearts go out to Ace’s family during this difficult time,” said Cleveland Metroparks Police Chief Katherine Dolan. “We will continue to work hard alongside the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office to bring justice for Ace and all family and friends impacted by this tragedy.”

The Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted him Wednesday. He is due in court Sept. 12.

EUCLID, Ohio- Euclid police need your help finding the person who assaulted and carjacked an elderly man earlier this month.

The carjacking happened around noon on August 5 at the Fifth Third Bank on Lakeshore Blvd.

"This was a really, really horrific crime against a 70-year-old man," said Lt. Mitch Houser, of the Euclid Police Department.

The victim was punched in the face and dragged by the car for a brief time.

The stolen car was spotted by Cleveland and Bratenahl police a few hours later. A suspect was arrested for being in the stolen vehicle but he has not been charged with the carjacking.

Anyone with information on the suspect or the crime is asked to call Euclid police detectives at 216-289-8505.

"I would love to bring justice to this gentleman for the violence he suffered," Houser said.

CLEVELAND -- The FOX 8 I-Team is investigating police activity at the home of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.

An officer on scene told our crew that a juvenile was taken into custody for questioning.

Mayor Jackson's home has 24/7 police protection, but Wednesday evening multiple patrol cars and homicide detectives showed up.

Law enforcement sources tell the I-Team this followed a shooting incident across town on the west side.

The mayor could be seen outside talking to officers. A vehicle was also towed from the property.

The I-Team reached out to city officials who could not provide any additional details.

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 8 for updates. 

CLEVELAND- The FOX 8 I-Team uncovered new evidence showing what’s happening with your trash and recycling wasting your time and money.

We’ve shown you city of Cleveland waste collection crews can’t get it done on time, and many of you complain they just can’t seem to get it right either.

The I-Team found the problems go back at least to 2017 and they are costing you millions in tax dollars. We revealed months ago, Cleveland crews picking up trash and recycling until well past dark working overtime night after night.

Now, the city  told us in 18 months, it spent nearly $2.5 million of your money just on overtime. The main reason behind that is delays caused by so many city trucks breaking down. There are also records showing the city is spending more than $50,000 a month to rent or lease trash trucks, and make sure they can get around to your streets and homes.

Back in the spring, Cleveland’s chief operating officer couldn’t explain how things got to this point and he didn’t think there were any warning signs.

The I-Team filed public record requests asking for bi-weekly director reports and found the waste commissioner did try to address the situation for months, sending memos to the highest levels of city hall. Brown did admit to the I-Team that he read those reports.

The I Team also recently exposed city of Cleveland crews dumping almost all of your recycling in with regular trash. First, we found it had been going on for months. Then, for at least a year. Now, we’ve obtained internal emails, showing the problem goes back to 2017.

Even then, a city official wrote to a private contractor, “We are losing recycling into the trash.”

City hall said the biggest problem has been too many people putting too much garbage into their recycling bins. So, most of the recycling collected from everyone gets contaminated. Then, almost all of it gets simply pushed into the trash dump.

Emails also show, even in early 2017, concerns raised by a private contractor, which has an agreement to haul away recycling collected in Cleveland.

No wonder the Mayor and his staff recently admitted the system is broken.

The city said it expects to lease or rent the extra trash trucks through October. The city said it expects to hire a consultant by October to look into how the fix the recycling system.

We`re watching to see how much longer all of this goes on and how much more money it will cost you.

CLEVELAND - Tears streamed down Amanda Harris' face as she checked the bandages on her daughter's tiny arm.

"She has second degree burns all over her right side," Harris told the Fox 8 I-Team Tuesday. "She was just screaming in pain. I will never get that sound out of my mind."

Harris said she got home from work  on Friday and was going to get her daughter from day care when the child's father got a call. An employee at Kinder Academy told them a bottle warmer fell on her daughter.

"As soon as we got in the parking lot, I could hear her screaming," Harris said.

Adam Musa, who works at Kinder Academy, said the child crawled behind a counter and pulled the plug on the bottle warmer. The bottle warmer fell and the hot water burned the child.

"We had two teachers in the room with her and an accident happened," Musa said.

Harris said she doesn't believe her daughter should have been anywhere near the bottle warmer.

Attorney Eric Henry, of the Henry Law Firm, filed a lawsuit on the family's behalf Tuesday.

"When a child gets burned like this while she is in the care and custody of the day care, it should never happen," Henry said. "It just shouldn't be possible for this to happen."

Cleveland police were called to the scene and filed a report.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has opened an investigation into the matter.

"I want answers," Harris said. "My baby deserves answers."

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The FOX 8 I-Team has confirmed the U.S. Marshal's office is searching for an inmate who escaped from the Cuyahoga County Jail.

Thirty-year-old Ferdinand Torres-Vargas was jailed on charges including domestic violence.

The FOX 8 I-Team was the first to confirm the Cuyahoga County jail was on lockdown while corrections officers tried to find Torres-Vargas.

The U.S. Marshal's office reports Torres-Vargas escaped 'sometime Tuesday evening,' according to a press release.

The I-Team has reached out to county officials and others in law enforcement for additional information.

Torres is 5'9", 125 lbs.

There is a $2,500 reward for information leading to his arrest.

Law enforcement also wants to remind family and friends they can be charged if they provide any assistance to him.

If you see him, call 911.

FOX 8 reported on a previous escape by Torres-Vargas in 2015. He was making a court appearance at the time and in the the custody of corrections officers.

The jail has been in the headlines for months due to a series of inmate deaths and deplorable conditions.

The county has begun making reforms but many problems remain.

This is a developing story and we will update when more information is available.

Continuing coverage here.

CLEVELAND - The FOX 8 I-Team has just learned Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's 22-year-old grandson, Frank Q. Jackson, has been indicted on one count of felonious assault, one count of abduction and two counts of failure to comply.

Earlier Wednesday,  Mayor Jackson told the Fox 8 I-Team that he did not know that city prosecutors declined to file charges against his grandson, who was alleged to have punched and strangled a woman in June.

"No I was not aware but I became aware," the mayor told the I-Team. When asked if he took any action after learning that charges were not filed he responded, "what action was it for me to take I don't interfere."

Police with the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority took a report June 10 from an 18-year-old woman, who alleged the mayor's grandson punched, strangled, dragged, and hit her in the knee with a metal truck hitch.

CMHA reports also state that city prosecutors did not pursue charges against the mayor’s grandson because the victim did not want to pursue charges.

We reached out to the victim but have not heard back. We also tried to speak to Frank Q. Jackson but were unable to find him.

When charges were filed,  Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Ryan Miday said, “The Grand Jury reviewed the facts of this case and has come to this determination. The message is that it is not acceptable to violently abuse women in Cuyahoga County.”

CLEVELAND - An arrest warrant was issued for the grandson of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson Thursday.

According to the court docket, a capias was sent to the Cuyahoga County sheriff for the arrest of Frank Q. Jackson, 22.

This comes just hours after FOX 8 obtained surveillance video Thursday afternoon connected to an assault that led to charges against Jackson.

City prosecutors first declined to file charges against him, but Wednesday, he was indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury.

The grand jury indicted Jackson on one count of felonious assault, one count of abduction and two counts of failure to comply.  The charges relate to an alleged attack on Jackson’s girlfriend.

Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority police released video from June 10.  Police say officers were interviewing Jackson’s girlfriend, who accused him of choking and beating her with a metal object.  The video is taken from various cameras at the Outhwaite Housing Complex.

In the video, Jackson’s green Ford F-150 pickup truck is seen pulling up to the scene.  Police say when officers motioned for him to pull over, he began backing up recklessly down the street.

Video shows the truck backing up and someone getting out of the truck, before it continues to pull off.

CMHA reports indicate that city prosecutors did not pursue charges against the mayor’s grandson because the victim did not want to press charges at the time.

Frank Q. Jackson is scheduled to appear in court on September 18.

Continuing coverage, here.

NEW FRANKLIN, Ohio — Police are investigating after an elderly woman was found dead inside her home.

According to a press release, officers responded to the 4700 block of Manchester Road for a welfare check on Friday.

Law enforcement sources tell the I-Team that her body may have been there for a while and foul play is suspected.

The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office and BCI are assisting with the case.

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 8 for updates.

CLEVELAND — U.S. Marshals say they were able to work with Mayor Frank Jackson on coordinating a surrender of his grandson, who is facing felony charges, for an alleged assault on his girlfriend.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott told Fox 8 he contacted Mayor Frank Jackson to discuss either having the Marshals track down his 22-year-old grandson Frank Q. Jackson or allowing him to surrender.

"The media was camped outside of his home so I thought the best way to handle it was to call and try and work something out," Elliott said.

According to a Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority police report, Jackson is accused of punching, choking and hitting an 18-year-old woman with a metal truck hitch in June. Officials say the woman was his girlfriend.
Cleveland City prosecutors did not file charges after the victim decided she did not want to pursue the case.

Elliott said the mayor was cooperative and did not ask for anything.

"We were able to work it out. His grandson was taken into custody," Elliott said.

Frank Q. Jackson, was indicted Wednesday on charges of felonious assault, abduction, and failure to comply with police, he was arrested around 9 Thursday evening.

He is expected to be arraigned on the charges Monday.

The county prosecutors, however, reviewed it earlier this week and then presented it to the grand jury.

The mayor has previously told the Fox 8 I-Team he does not interfere in his grandson's cases.

A statement from the City of Cleveland Law Department says:

“The City of Cleveland Prosecutor’s Office reviews numerous misdemeanor and felony offenses on a daily, weekly and monthly basis for charging decisions. The Assistant Prosecutors in the office take this responsibility seriously. Every charging decision is made based on the facts and evidence presented to an Assistant Prosecutor by a presenting law enforcement official. The City Prosecutor’s Office does not receive, and has not received, any influence or interference by anyone in the Mayor’s Office on this or any other case. The Law Director is responsible for this office, but does not interfere with charging decisions, and did not do so in this case. The Law Department and the citizens of Cleveland rely on the experience and knowledge of its prosecuting attorneys to weigh and consider the evidence presented when making charging decisions. Assistant Prosecutors, like Aric Kinast who is a fine and upstanding professional who has served the citizens of Cleveland for 19 years, take their jobs very seriously. It is now clear that the matter at issue in the media was presented by a CMHA detective who failed to provide ALL the evidence related to this matter. When facts and evidence are withheld, such as the video released yesterday, an educated and informed decision cannot be made. Being a prosecutor is tough and is made tougher when facts and evidence are withheld or not properly presented. The City Prosecutor’s Office will continue honorably serving the citizens of Cleveland.”

**Continuing coverage here**

FAIRLAWN, Ohio - Brian Hollingsworth says his two disabled dogs will soon be getting prosthetic devices thanks to the generous donations made by FOX 8 viewers.

Last month Hollingsworth told FOX 8 that he adopted the two special dogs, Wallaby and Roo, and even took on a second job to help pay for their needs.

"Dogs with special needs just have a special place in my heart and I had to help," Hollingsworth said. "These are my best friends."

He set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for their prosthetic devices.

"A short time after the story ran, FOX 8 viewers were so generous and we got the money we needed," Hollingsworth said. "Thank you can't even express how grateful I am."

The two have been fitted for the devices and should get them in about a week.

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio  — East Cleveland police tell the FOX 8 I-TEAM that officers are investigating after someone set a dog on fire while the pet was inside a crate.

According to Captain Scott Gardner, officers rescued the severely burned dog Friday morning, and took it for medical care, but the animal’s injuries were so great it had to be euthanized.

It happened in the garage of an apartment complex in the 16000 block of Nelacrest Road.

East Cleveland police say people there took in a stray dog. Then they found they didn’t have room for it in their apartment, so they put the dog in a crate in the parking garage.

Police say “unknown persons” used a “possible accelerant” to set the dog on fire.

Police say they did a thorough search of the area, but no one has been arrested. Detectives will be following up.

This is a developing story. FOX 8 will provide more information as it becomes available.

PAINESVILLE, Ohio – Police are investigating the death of a 65-year-old Painesville man.

Police found the man’s body Saturday around 11:45 a.m. after conducting a welfare check at home on Mentor Avenue.

I-TEAM sources say the man was found on the third floor of the home and foul play is suspected.

Police have asked for the pubic’s help in locating the victim’s vehicle, a gray 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee with Ohio plates GWC-1718, which was reportedly stolen from the residence.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or vehicle is asked to contact the Painesville Police Department at (440) 392-5840.

CLEVELAND - A 17-year-old Whitney Young student was robbed at gunpoint Thursday while walking to school, and now his mother is working to try and make the streets safer.

The robbery happened on Harvard Avenue, on the city’s east side.

“Kids should be able to walk to school without getting a gun pointed in their face,” said Rameana Foster, the victim’s mother. “These teenagers jumped out with a gun. He ran in the street to get away.”

The victim was able to get away without getting hurt. Police arrested one suspect, a 15-year-old. The suspect is due back in court soon.

Foster, several residents, along with Cleveland Councilman Joe Jones and State Representative Juanita Brent were on Harvard Avenue Monday morning calling for more police patrols.

“What I would like to see is more safety forces patrolling our community,” Jones said. He added he is talking to the police chief to increase patrols by the schools during the time students arrive.

Educators at schools in the area tell the I-Team they, too, fear for the students' safety.

“This should be a walkable neighborhood,” Brent said. “This is the same community I grew up in and no one should be fearful.”

CLEVELAND- Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority officials deny allegations from the city’s law department that stated a detective did not release all information regarding an alleged assault involving Mayor Frank Jackson’s grandson.

“The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) supports the actions of its Police Department,” a statement from CMHA Police Chief Andres Gonzalez said. ” The Assistant City Prosecutor was briefed on the matter and was provided all pertinent facts. He gave a cursory review of the investigation file and decided not to prosecute. CMHA’s Police Department did not withhold any evidence nor was any additional evidence requested by the Assistant Prosecutor.”

According to a Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority police report, the mayor’s grandson, Frank Q. Jackson, is accused of punching, choking and hitting an 18-year-old woman with a metal truck hitch in June. Officials say the woman was his girlfriend.

Cleveland City prosecutors did not file charges after the victim decided she did not want to pursue the case.

A statement from the city law department Friday stated a detective did not provide all the evidence to the prosecutor.

Frank Q. Jackson was indicted Wednesday by a county grand jury on charges of felonious assault, abduction, and failure to comply with police. He was arrested around 9 Thursday evening.

He was arraigned Monday and entered a not guilty plea. He posted 10 percent of the bond.

**Follow continuing coverage**