30 August 2012. Update on the Olmsted Falls Bell Theft… Perp was a Real “Winner”

Justice and Divine Vengeance Pursuing Crime

Pierre-Paul Prud’hon

1808

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On Tuesday, a township man faced charges in the theft of five large brass bells from St Innocent Orthodox Church. Police said they were able to identify a suspect after he sold the bells for scrap. The church has gotten its bells back. Police said Brian Diamond, 34, admitted stealing the bells, valued at 5,500 USD (180,000 Roubles. 4,400 Euros. 3,500 UK Pounds), that were taken Sunday night from the church at 6526 Usher Road. Police said Diamond sold them for 380 USD (12,400 Roubles. 300 Euros. 240 UK Pounds) to D&B Auto Wrecking in Columbia Station OH, a scrap metal dealer. When he sold the bells, police said Diamond provided his driver’s license for identification. D&B’s owner called police after he learned that bells were taken from the church. The Rev Michael Butler said the bells were a gift to the church; about six years ago, a parishioner donated them in memory of her husband. The bells, which weigh from 60 to 70 pounds, were imported from Russia.

Lt Matt Vanyo said Diamond was arrested last year for stealing an expensive snow board in a burglary. He was given six months probation. Vanyo said police were heading to Diamond’s house on Tuesday when they saw him driving in a car, saying, “We stopped and talked to him, and he admitted stealing the bells”. Diamond also told police he was ill and asked to be taken to Southwest General Health Center in Middleburg Heights OH. He was treated and released, but as a police officer was walking him back to the patrol car, he escaped. Vanyo told me, “He kicked the officer and ran across the street and hid in a field. It took officers from several local communities along with the Highway Patrol and Metroparks rangers to find him”. Vanyo said Diamond also will be charged with escape and assaulting a police officer. Vanyo said the best part of his day was returning the bells to the church, noting, “This is why we get into this line of work. We were able to return the property and then get the bad guy. We felt good about it. I mean, who steals from a church?”

30 August 2012

Michael Sangiacomo

The Plain Dealer (Cleveland OH)

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/08/man_arrested_in_church_bell_th.html

Editor’s Note:

The perp’s not an Einstein, that’s for sure! He added at least another year to his slam time by running and hiding after being nicked, and he gave himself two more years by kicking a copper. If he hadn’t done those two oddbod things, he might have just gotten away with local time, but by kicking a cop and bolting, he guaranteed that he’d get hard state time. As I said, he’s no Einstein!

BMD

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28 August 2012. Perp in Olmsted Falls Bell Heist Nicked by Coppers… oca.org Incomplete as per Usual

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According to the Olmsted Township Police Department, David B Diamond, 34, of Olmsted Township, admitted stealing five brass bells from St Innocent Orthodox Church, 6526 Usher Road, and will face charges. The police learned of the theft at approximately 19.30 EDT 26 August. The church choir director came back to the church that night, noticed them missing, and called police. According to Olmsted Township Police Chief John Minek, at 20.00 EDT 27 August, they received a call from D&B Auto Wrecking in Columbia Station OH that they possibly had the stolen bells. Officers met with D&B owner Don Bosak, who said that Diamond brought him the brass bells to scrap for money. Bosak became suspicious that they were stolen; he asked Diamond for identification before releasing payment. Bosak paid him 380.80 USD (12,200 Roubles. 303 Euros. 241 UK Pounds).

After Diamond left, Bosak was ready to call the Lorain County Sheriff’s Department, but he heard about the theft of the bells from St Innocent’s, so, he called the Olmsted Township PD, who recovered the bells. Officers went to Diamond’s home to question him. While driving to the home, they saw him driving down Sharp Road and stopped his vehicle. The cops took Diamond to the station for questioning, and he admitted to the felony theft. According to St Innocent’s pastor, Rev Michael Butler, the bells are from Russia, with a value of 5,500 USD (176,000 Roubles. 4,375 Euros. 3,475 UK Pounds). They were a gift from a parishioner, in memory of her husband. Butler said, “We’re glad to have the bells back. We thank everyone for their prayers for their return”. He also noted that it’d take about three weeks to get the bells mounted onto another platform, but this time, the platform will be movable, to allow it to taken inside the church building.

28 August 2012

Mark Holan

Sun News

http://www.cleveland.com/olmsted/index.ssf/2012/08/olmsted_township_man_admits_to.html