05/21/2026
Early on May 19, 2026, Rocky River Police officers located a disabled vehicle on I-90 westbound near the Detroit Road overpass. While checking the vehicle, officers encountered a 36-year-old West Salem man walking on the freeway and arrested him for disorderly conduct while intoxicated. The vehicle was later impounded.
A short time later, at about 4:40 a.m., officers were called to the Oxford Court Apartments on Detroit Road for a report of a man entering the laundry room through a window and damaging property. During the investigation, officers located a loose dog nearby and connected the incident to the earlier disabled vehicle after officers and detectives tracked two people with a dog walking from the interstate area toward Oxford Court. One person was wearing distinctive orange clothing, and matching clothing was later inside the laundry room.
As the investigation continued, officers discovered that several other apartments had also been entered. Later that day, after another apartment was burglarized while the tenant was home, the suspect fled when confronted, prompting a multi-agency search. The suspect, 35-year-old Charles Meek from West Salem, was located a short time later after apparently changing clothes to avoid detection, and was arrested.
Meek was charged with several counts of burglary. Additional felony charges of vandalism and theft are pending.
Rocky River Police Patrol Officers and Detectives demonstrated professionalism and teamwork, working continuously from well before dawn until after 5:30 p.m. to bring this case to a safe and successful conclusion. Thank you to the City of Westlake Ohio Police Department for its assistance.
