Brunswick: A Community In Crisis

Brunswick, Ohio, is the largest city in Medina County and is approximately 20 miles southwest of Cleveland. The city was founded on January 1, 1815, and was named after Brunswick, Germany, following a naming contest. In recent news, an 18-year-old male was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of his 18-year-old girlfriend, a senior at Brunswick High School. Additionally, a fire destroyed a local Brunswick home, and a man was struck and killed while walking.

A Brunswick woman won a large sum of money on a scratch-off ticket

A Brunswick woman is half a million dollars richer after winning the top prize in the $500,000 Cashword Ohio Lottery scratch-off game. Jodi Smallwood, the winner, bought her ticket at Cenco on Center Road in Brunswick, a location she says she would never have visited if she hadn't met her boyfriend, who lives nearby.

Smallwood received $360,000 after a mandatory 28% state and federal tax was deducted from the total. She plans to share her winnings with her family, take a vacation around Christmas, and create savings accounts for her grandchildren. She also bought her boyfriend a new car. "Giving is what I like to do, it makes me feel good to see people smile," she said.

The $10 scratch-off game has a $500,000 jackpot and, as of April 10, 2024, there was still one top prize left. In September 2023, three top prizes remained.

An 18-year-old male was arrested for the fatal shooting of his girlfriend

On May 3, 2022, at approximately 11:02 p.m., Brunswick Police Department officers responded to calls regarding a woman with a gunshot wound in the 4300 block of Southwick Boulevard. When they arrived, they found 18-year-old Alyssa Pinardo, a senior at Brunswick High School, with a fatal gunshot wound.

Pinardo's boyfriend, 18-year-old Logan Robertson, was arrested and charged with her murder. He was transported to and held at the Medina County Jail on a $5 million bond. Robertson was arraigned via video in Medina Municipal Court.

A gun was recovered from the scene, and authorities are working to identify the registered owner of the firearm. Police also stated that a child relative was present at the home when the shooting occurred.

The fatal shooting of Pinardo was another instance in a string of rising domestic violence cases in the state of Ohio. According to Mary O'Doherty, the executive director of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, there was a 20% increase in domestic violence fatalities in the state in the previous year, with 131 people dying from domestic violence and 15 of those being young victims. Gun violence contributed to the majority of these deaths, with 86% involving firearms.

A tornado hit Brunswick in 2014

On June 23, 2014, a tornado hit Brunswick, Ohio, causing significant damage to the area. The tornado was classified as a high-end EF1 or EF2, with wind speeds reaching up to 110 mph. This classification indicates wind speeds between 86 and 135 mph, which can result in minor structural damage, such as uprooted trees and downed power lines.

The tornado left a trail of destruction in its wake, with several homes damaged and at least four deemed uninhabitable in the Royal Oak Drive area. Trees were toppled, wires were downed, and debris was scattered across the neighbourhood. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries, but residents expressed shock and relief at the impact of the tornado. One resident, Mark Seidel, described his experience: "The garage is pretty much blown apart. My car has got some damage but it's fixable... We have a nine-month-old baby. We weren't home at the time. Her room is actually the back corner of the house, and her crib sits on that wall. It's a sobering experience, but at the same time, we know we're lucky."

The National Weather Service's meteorologists surveyed the damage and confirmed the presence of a tornado. The City of Brunswick PIO, Nick Solar, reported that four residences were significantly damaged and rendered uninhabitable, with an additional 6 to 8 homes sustaining lesser damage. The absence of a tornado warning for Medina County at the time of the tornado, only a severe thunderstorm warning, added to the surprise and impact of the event.

Brunswick, located in Medina County, is approximately 20 miles southwest of Cleveland. With a population of 35,426 as of the 2020 census, it is the largest city in the county. The city has a council-manager form of government and boasts one of the oldest churches in the Western Reserve and Hiram Miller's Underground Railroad station.

A laundromat theft saw $1,100 in quarters stolen

On Saturday, January 13, 2024, at around 1 a.m., The Brunswick Laundromat on Pearl Road in Brunswick, Ohio, became the scene of an unusual crime. 28-year-old Keith Krakowski broke into the 24/7 laundromat and stole approximately $1,100 in quarters, amounting to about 55 pounds of coins. He then fled on foot into a nearby residential area.

The police were alerted to the break-in by the blaring alarm of the laundromat. They pursued Krakowski and captured him after a brief foot chase. During the arrest, Krakowski was found to be in possession of the stolen quarters as well as several pieces of mail that had been stolen from local residents.

Krakowski was charged with breaking and entering, resisting arrest, and possession of criminal tools. He was booked into the Medina County Jail, where he awaits further consequences for his actions.

This incident marks a significant theft, not only due to the unusual target of quarters from a laundromat but also because of the substantial amount involved. The weight of the stolen quarters underscores the bold and unusual nature of the crime.

The arrest of Krakowski by the Brunswick Police Department highlights their swift response to the break-in and their commitment to ensuring the safety and security of local businesses and residents in Brunswick, Ohio.

A Brunswick home was destroyed by fire

On Sunday, January 15, 2023, a house fire broke out in the early morning in Brunswick Hills, Ohio, destroying a family's home. The fire started around 5:20 a.m. in a single-family home on Substation Road, with the Brunswick Hills Fire Department receiving a 911 call at that time. Upon their arrival, firefighters found that the second floor of the house was completely engulfed in flames, with the fire also spreading through the roof.

All four residents of the home, a mother and her three children, were able to escape the house and were outside when the firefighters arrived. However, one of the children suffered burn injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment. The fire posed a challenge for firefighters due to cold temperatures, a lack of hydrants, and the house's distance from the roadway. Despite these obstacles, the fire was brought under control by 6:57 a.m. or just before 7 a.m., with assistance from multiple fire departments and the Medina Life Support Team.

Tragically, several family pets perished in the fire, and the family lost everything but one of their vehicles. The cause of the fire was determined to be a space heater situated too close to combustible materials. The Brunswick Hills Fire Department reminded residents to keep combustible items at least three feet away from space heaters and to follow the manufacturer's instructions for safe use.

In the wake of the fire, the community rallied together to support the affected family. The Brunswick City Schools, Brunswick Hills Police Department, and Brunswick Hills Police Association organized a collection of new clothing and gift cards for the family. The specific clothing needs of each family member were listed, and drop-off locations and dates were provided for those wishing to contribute.

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