UPDATE: An 18-year-old woman has reported a shocking case of sexual assault in Cleveland Heights following a troubling night out. The incident took place early on December 27, 2023, when the victim approached authorities at the University Circle Police Department after experiencing a harrowing ordeal.
The victim disclosed that she was picked up from her home in North Ridgeville around 8:30 p.m. on December 26 by a man she had only recently started dating. After briefly visiting Forest Hills Park, she alleges the driver, who remains unidentified, forcibly assaulted her despite her repeated protests.
According to police reports, the man offered her alcohol and insisted she smoke marijuana. After a brief period of intimacy, he is accused of physically restraining her by her hair and demanding oral sex. The victim claimed she said “no” and expressed that he was hurting her, but the assault continued for several minutes.
After the alleged assault, the man drove her to an RTA stop at Cedar Road and Martin Luther King Boulevard, where he insisted she exit his vehicle. Feeling unsafe, she urged him to take her to a police station, which he eventually did, telling her that authorities would not believe her claims.
Upon arrival at the police station, the woman was visibly shaken and reluctant to formally pursue charges, stating she was unsure about writing a statement. Nevertheless, police arranged for her to receive medical evaluation for potential sexual assault.
This incident follows another troubling report from the same night, where police were called to The Wine Spot at 11:25 p.m. due to a disturbance involving a father and his daughter. The 43-year-old father reported that his daughter was experiencing a mental health crisis linked to her relationship woes and was taken to Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital for evaluation.
The Cleveland Heights community is urged to remain vigilant as police continue their investigation into these incidents. Authorities are working to ensure the safety of all residents and provide support to those affected.
As this story develops, community members are encouraged to report any suspicious behavior and look out for one another.
For immediate updates on this urgent situation, stay tuned to local news sources.
