By Shawn Henry 
A Lorain man was arrested Wednesday after police say he stole an SUV from a residential garage and later allowed the vehicle to crash down an embankment near the shore of Lake Erie.
According to police, William Griffin, 46, of Lorain, is charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, reckless operation and breaking and entering. The incident began shortly after 7 a.m. at a home in Lorain, police said.
A man was in the process of starting a relative’s white Acura RDX inside a detached garage, according to police. After starting the vehicle, the man stepped outside while the SUV continued to run. At that point, Griffin allegedly confronted the man and entered the vehicle.
Police said Griffin then drove away in the SUV. Authorities later determined that the vehicle was taken to an apartment complex on East Erie Avenue, located roughly a mile from the city’s police department. The parking lot of the complex sits near Lake Erie.
Witnesses told officers that Griffin exited the still-running SUV while it was in the parking lot. With no one behind the wheel, the vehicle continued moving, traveled down an embankment and came to rest on large rocks along the lakeshore.
The SUV sustained significant damage as a result of the crash, police said. Officers responded to the scene and took Griffin into custody. During the arrest, Griffin complained of shortness of breath and was transported to a hospital for evaluation.
After receiving medical attention, Griffin was taken to the Lorain County Jail, where he remains in custody. Police did not report any injuries to the victim involved in the initial theft.
Authorities have not released additional details about the confrontation in the garage or whether surveillance footage captured the incident. The investigation remains ongoing.
Lorain police continue to remind residents to avoid leaving vehicles running and unattended, even for short periods of time, particularly during early morning hours when thefts can occur quickly.
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