An Akron auto dealership was the target for vandalism over the weekend.      

Shortly before 5:00am Sunday morning, an employee for Dave Walters VW, in the 400 block of West Exchange Street, reported damage to over thirty cars. Sometime during the night unknown suspects used spray paint on the cars, broke several windows, and damaged several roofs and hoods.

Edwards says detectives are asking for the public's help in trying to track down the vandals. Anyone with information is asked to call the Akron Police Department.

Akron and Tallmadge Police were finally able to stop the driver of a stolen SUV early this morning after the driver struck several police cruisers. 

Around 1:30 this morning, officers observed a stolen 1994 Dodge Dakota near the intersection of East Exchange Street and South Arlington Street.  The SUV had been taken from Arlington Plaza. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle near the intersection of East Exchange Street and Brown Street when the driver led officers on a chase.. The pursuit lasted nearly a half hour, passed through four cities and damaged three Akron cruisers. Tallmadge Police Officers deployed stop sticks, disabling the suspect’s vehicle. The driver was finally taken into custody near the intersection of Howe Road and Vinewood Avenue.

Isaac Jones, 18, of Patterson Avenue in Akron, was charged with Receiving Stolen Property, Failure to Comply with Police Orders and four counts of Assault on a Peace officer. Jones was transported to a local hospital for a minor laceration to his face before being booked into the Summit County Jail.

No other injuries or damages were reported.

Three people have been charged in connection with the homicide of 56-year old Pamela Fox of Ravenna. Her body was found earlier this week in her home on King Street.

The woman's son, 20-year old Joseph Fox, of Ravenna, is charged with aggravated murder.

Ravenna police also charged two brothers in connection with Pamela Fox's murder. Jordan Owens, 21 and seen at left, top, of Ravenna is charged with tampering with evidence.

Joseph Owens, 22 and seen a lower left, also of Ravenna, faces a forgery charge.

All three men lived in a house on Riddle Avenue, and all three suspects are in the Portage County Jail.

There was little additional information provided by police following the arrest of the three men.

Police declined to release additional information in the death of Pamela Fox citing the status of the active investigation. Fox's body was found Monday evening at 6:18 p.m. by officers responding to her home at 601 King Street. They arrested a person they described as a "person of interest" at the time but provided few other details.

Autopsy results were not released by the Summit County Medical Examiners office, which conducted the medical examination; officials said they did not want to compromise the Ravenna P.D. investigation, according to news reports from the Ravenna Record-Courier.

Officials with the Portage County Prosecutor's Office and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation were also on the scene of the slaying.

Anyone with information regarding the murder is asked to contact the Ravenna Police Department at 330-296

Akron Police are looking for two suspects following a street robbery late Monday night.

Around 11pm, a 53 year old man reported he was walking near the intersection of East South and Sherman Streets, when he was approached from behind by two men. The suspects demanded money, before punching him in the face and knocking him to the ground. While on the ground, the suspects kicked the victim in the stomach several times before removing about a dollar in change from his pockets. The suspects fled and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The suspects are two black males, 18 – 21 years old, 5’07” – 5’08”, 165 – 175 lbs., wearing all dark clothing.

Those severe storms that caused some heavy damage across two thirds of the state south of us in June and July, will cost us more in future homeowners insurance rates....

Mary Bonelli of the Ohio Insurance Institute tells AkronNewsNow " Even if you haven't filed a claim in the last few years you're likely going to see an increase in the cost of your homeowners insurance. The trends show that the weather patterns have changed dramatically in this last five to ten year period, and are causing extensive losses in the midwest and a lot in Ohio."

Bonelli says over the past five years Ohio has seen a big increase in violent weather and the insurance companies are projecting we'll have more severe weather in the next few years, so they'll base their rates on that risk.

"Since 2011 we've had eight major catastrophes in Ohio, and the losses from those storms was one $1-billion in insured losses,"says Bonelli.

Mary Bonelli says this summer's storms resulted in damage claims of up to $440-million."The losses from that particular series of storms, actually are now the third costliest natural disaster in recent times in Ohio," says Bonelli.

Ohio Storms Hike Insurance Rates by Larry States

News Release From The Ohio Insurance Institute

COLUMBUS (August 13, 2012) – After a relatively calm winter and spring, a round of summer storms socked Ohioans and their insurers in late June-early July with losses of at least $433.5 million.

According to the Ohio Insurance Institute (OII), this is the third costliest natural disaster to hit the Buckeye state in recent times, behind the September 14, 2008 Hurricane Ike windstorm and the April 3-4, 1974 Xenia tornado super-outbreak. Statewide preliminary estimates find insured losses totaled $433.5-$440 million from the six-day period, June 28-July 4.

Ohio claims from the summer “derecho” storms are estimated at 96,725–107,300. A derecho, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center, is a widespread, long-lived windstorm associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. A derecho can cause tornado-like damage, but is typically along a relatively straight swath, also described as “straight-line winds.” By definition it includes wind gusts of at least 58 mph along most of its length.

Property Claim Services reports that the June 28-July 2 storms affected IL, IN, KY, MD, NJ, NC, OH, SC, VA, WV and Washington D.C. Damages due to flood, hail, tornadoes and high wind caused overall losses of $1.125 billion. PCS reports the July 2-4 storms caused an additional $300 million in losses in five states including OH, MI, MN, PA and WI. In both of these storm events, PCS ranks Ohio as having the highest dollar loss estimates.

According to OII President Dan Kelso, this is the eighth major natural disaster to hit Ohio since 2011, which includes two winter storms in 2011 and six wind-hail storms. (See Ohio’s winter and wind/hail loss histories for recaps of these events.)

According to the Ohio EMA situation reports, five Ohio deaths are blamed on these storms. One was from a barn collapse and the other four were heat-related.

Springfield Township Police busting a mobile meth lab. At Approximately 11:30 Monday morning., officers responded to a Munroe Falls Road. address for a dispute between neighbors. A vehicle involved in the incident was noticed leaving the scene and was stopped.. That's when officers discovered a fully active mobile meth lab inside the vehicle.

Arrested on the scene was 31 year old David B. McCreery of Springfield Township. McCreery was charged with Illegal Manufacturing of Drugs, Illegal Assembly of Chemicals, and Drug Trafficking, and was booked into the Summit County Jail.

A candidate for Stark County commissioner has withdrawn from the race.

The Canton Repository reports private attorney, Craig Conley notified the county Board of Elections Friday to remove his name from the November ballot.                

Conley, a Republican, was to challenge Stark County Commissioner Thomas Bernabei.    

Conley, in a news release said time constraints imposed by his law practice and his possible involvement in a new business venture prevented him from giving the position the attention it needs.

A 26-year old Akron man is under arrest after his alleged involvement in a double stabbing incident around 4 Thursday afternoon. Officers responded to a stabbing in the 100 block of Ira Avenue.

Two roommates, William Strutz, 51, and Jared Owens, 26, were involved in a verbal argument that turned physical when both roommates used knives to stab each other.

William Stutz was stabbed multiple times in the back, neck, and face. He was transported to Akron General Hospital where his injuries do not appear to be life threatening.                 

Jared Owens had two minor lacerations on his face and neck and was treated on scene.

Jared Owens was charged with Felonious Assault and booked into the Summit County Jail.