Suicidal Child, Drug Overdose, and Drink Tampering Lead a Busy Week for First Responders
By Vermilion Daily | April 5, 2025
A disturbing string of emergency calls in Vermilion this week included a suicidal 11-year-old boy, a woman believed to have had her drink spiked, and a man who took a dangerous amount of Advil before driving off. These calls, along with dozens of others, kept police and EMS busy around the clock.
Between April 3 and April 5, officers responded to over 80 incidents, ranging from mental health emergencies and family disputes to traffic stops, theft, and routine extra patrols. Several calls involved children, raising concerns about youth safety and mental health in the community.
📅 April 3, 2025
- 6:12 PM – Altamont Rd: Extra patrol requested.
- 6:24 PM – Vermilion Rd & North Ridge Rd: Assisted Lorain County Sheriff’s Office with a fleeing subject.
- 6:29 PM – Drug Mart (Liberty Ave): Foot patrol conducted.
- 7:04 PM – Police Department: Radar unit calibrated.
- 8:06 PM – Valleyview (Sanford/Sailorway): Extra patrol.
- 8:29 PM – Guilford Rd: Caller heard yelling; officers found someone working on a motorcycle. No issues.
- 9:25 PM – Baumhart/North Ridge: Assisted with a male pushing a shopping cart. Male taken into custody; female given a ride.
📅 April 4, 2025
🚨 Overnight Emergencies
- 1:18–2:49 AM – Liberty Ave (Multiple Stops): Business checks at several locations including Liberty Ford, Wendy’s, and Dollar General.
- 2:51 AM – Harcourt Rd: 11-year-old boy expressed suicidal thoughts. Caller said he may try to stab himself and had trouble breathing. Officers filed a report.
- 3:22–4:56 AM – Liberty Ave & Schools: Continued business checks, foot patrols, and lift assist for a woman who fell.
- 6:41 AM – Vermilion Rd: 14-year-old female having a seizure. LifeCare notified.
- 6:43 AM – Same case continued. EMS and officer arrived; patient was alert.
☀️ Daytime Patrols
- 7:49–12:28 PM – Liberty Ave & Schools: Foot patrols, traffic stops, and school walk-throughs at elementary and middle schools.
- 10:12 AM – Morton Rd: Elderly female unresponsive but breathing. EMS called.
- 12:28 PM – Oakwood Dr: Parking complaint. No violations found.
🚔 Afternoon & Evening
- 1:37 PM – Ford Ln: Caller reported a handyman stole her purse.
- 1:38 PM – Vermilion High School: Student had a seizure in Room 302. Taken by LifeCare with father.
- 2:40 PM – Delmonico’s Barbershop: Caller said a rental car was hit in the lot.
- 2:56 PM – Giant Eagle: Disturbance reported in the bakery.
- 3:31 PM – South St: Lift assist. No injuries.
- 3:50 PM – South Shore Ct: Civil standby requested after breakup.
- 5:30 PM – Langfitt St: Traffic stop. Verbal warnings for seatbelt and brake lights.
- 8:14–9:38 PM – Multiple Residential Streets: House checks and extra patrols on Grand St, Ohio St, Park Dr, and Indian Ridge. Electric bicycles checked—no violations found.
- 9:04 PM – Erie Rd: Caller thought they heard a child scream. Officers found no issue.
- 10:06–11:50 PM – Liberty Ave & SR2: More business checks and several traffic stops. Verbal warnings issued for headlight problems.
📅 April 5, 2025
🌙 Late-Night Calls
- 12:28 AM – Liberty Ave: Caller said her brother was suicidal and had taken 4,800 mg of Advil. He was last seen driving a teal pickup. Referred to Erie County Sheriff’s Office.
- 12:49–3:32 AM – Business Checks: Ongoing patrols of Pizza Hut, Liberty Ford, Beanie’s Laundry, and more.
- 1:15 AM – Decatur St: Caller heard noises outside. No signs of damage or break-in.
- 2:56 AM – Parkland Blvd: Possible drink spiking. Female was sick and combative. EMS transported with police assistance.
- 3:50 AM – Exchange St: Female reported body-wide pain. EMS called.
🌞 Morning to Afternoon
- 8:40–10:21 AM – Liberty Ave & Edgewater: Foot patrols and extra patrols on Oakwood and Altamont Rd. Traffic stop at Aldrich/Edgewater.
- 11:14 AM – Jerusalem Rd: Woman reported large boils on her legs. EMS reached her using RapidSOS texting due to poor cell signal.
- 1:56 PM – Roxboro Rd: 65-year-old woman fell. Injuries unknown.
- 2:08 PM – Firelands Collision Center: Caller saw two juveniles running away from the building where a window was broken. Employee said damage happened the day before and owners were aware.
- 2:47 PM – Altamont Rd: Extra patrol.
- 5:13 PM – South Shore Ct: Caller said her sister-in-law sent suicidal messages. Infant was in the home. Long day of arguing reported. Weapons in the house, but no threats made.
🔎 Summary: What These Calls Tell Us
🧠 Mental Health Struggles
At least three serious suicidal incidents took place in three days. One involved a young child. Another involved an overdose. A third included a mother with a baby at home. These are critical warnings about the need for mental health help in the community.
👶 Youth in Crisis
Two students had seizures at Vermilion High School. One child was reported screaming (but not found), and two juveniles were seen fleeing a vandalism scene. These events show how youth safety, health, and supervision may need more attention.
🚨 First Responders Stretched Thin
Police and EMS handled over 80 calls, including medical runs, civil matters, and ongoing safety patrols. Officers worked overnight, often switching between mental health emergencies and traffic enforcement with little pause.
📢 What You Can Do
- If someone is in danger or needs help, call 911 immediately.
- For non-emergency concerns, contact the Vermilion Police Department.
- If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
