Westlake Police Respond to Alleged OVI Incident and Crypto Scam

A man called police for help with his disabled car but denied driving, while a convenience store employee stopped a customer from falling victim to a cryptocurrency scam.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 8:34pm

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In Westlake, Ohio, a 32-year-old Lakewood man called the police to report his disabled car on I-90, claiming his intoxicated friend 'Matt' had been driving but fled the scene. However, officers found no one else around and the man showed signs of drug use, leading to his arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated for the third time in 10 years. Meanwhile, a convenience store employee alerted police after suspecting a customer was about to deposit $18,000 in cash into a cryptocurrency ATM as part of a scam, preventing the victim from falling for the scheme.

Why it matters

These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces with impaired driving and cryptocurrency-related scams, which have become increasingly prevalent in recent years. The Westlake case demonstrates how some individuals may try to evade responsibility for their actions, while the crypto scam shows the importance of public awareness and vigilance to protect vulnerable residents from financial exploitation.

The details

In the OVI case, the 32-year-old Lakewood man called police to report his disabled car on I-90, claiming his intoxicated friend 'Matt' had been driving but fled the scene. However, officers found no one else around and the man showed signs of drug use, leading to his arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated for the third time in 10 years. He refused a breath test and was also charged with possession of drugs. In the crypto scam, a convenience store employee alerted police after suspecting a customer was about to deposit $18,000 in cash into a cryptocurrency ATM as part of a scam. The employee's warning prevented the victim from falling for the scheme.

  • On March 4 at 8 p.m., the Lakewood man called the police to report his disabled car on I-90.
  • On March 3 at 2:15 p.m., the convenience store employee called the police to report the suspected crypto scam.

The players

32-year-old Lakewood man

The owner of the disabled vehicle who called the police, claiming his intoxicated friend 'Matt' had been driving but fled the scene.

Convenience store employee

An employee at a convenience store who alerted the police about a customer who was about to deposit $18,000 in cash into a cryptocurrency ATM as part of a scam.

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What they’re saying

“He told a dispatcher that he had been 'partying' with friends, had become intoxicated, and was left high and dry after the friends fled the disabled vehicle.”

— 32-year-old Lakewood man

“The employee said that a woman was preparing to deposit a large sum of cash into a cryptocurrency ATM inside the store. The targeted victim had $18,000 in cash prepared to feed into the machine as she had been instructed to do by the scammer.”

— Convenience store employee

What’s next

The judge in the OVI case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the 32-year-old Lakewood man out on bail.

The takeaway

These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces with impaired driving and cryptocurrency-related scams, which have become increasingly prevalent in recent years. The Westlake case demonstrates how some individuals may try to evade responsibility for their actions, while the crypto scam shows the importance of public awareness and vigilance to protect vulnerable residents from financial exploitation.