A Lorain man was arrested Wednesday after police say he stole an SUV from a residential garage and later let the vehicle roll, driverless, down an embankment near the shore of Lake Erie.
A Confrontation in the Garage
According to police, 46-year-old William Griffin of Lorain is charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, reckless operation, and breaking and entering — allegations that remain unproven in court. The incident began shortly after 7 a.m. at a home in Lorain.
Police say a man was in the process of starting a relative’s white Acura RDX inside a detached garage. After starting the vehicle, he stepped outside while the SUV continued running. That’s when Griffin allegedly confronted the man and got into the vehicle himself.
An SUV Rolls Into the Lake
Police say Griffin then drove off in the SUV. Authorities later determined the vehicle ended up at an apartment complex on East Erie Avenue, roughly a mile from the city’s police department, with a parking lot that sits near Lake Erie.
Witnesses told officers that Griffin got out of the still-running SUV while it sat in the parking lot. With no one behind the wheel, the vehicle kept moving, rolled down an embankment, and came to rest on large rocks along the lakeshore, sustaining significant damage in the process.
The Arrest
Officers responded to the scene and took Griffin into custody. During the arrest, Griffin complained of shortness of breath and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. After receiving medical attention, he was booked into the Lorain County Jail, where he remains in custody. Police did not report any injuries to the victim involved in the initial theft.
Authorities haven’t released additional details about the confrontation in the garage or whether surveillance footage captured the incident, and the investigation remains ongoing. Lorain police continue reminding residents to avoid leaving vehicles running and unattended, even briefly, particularly during early morning hours when thefts can happen quickly.