ELYRIA — A Lakewood man arrested after leading Wal-Mart security and Elyria police on a chase Wednesday night, had already been successful in pulling off the same stunt at the Chestnut Commons Wal-Mart, according to an Elyria police report.

Regis Ferron, 35, was charged with theft, possession of criminal tools, obstructing official business and resisting arrest for the Midway Wal-Mart incident. He also had an outstanding warrant from Avon police, a police report released yesterday said.

In that incident, he had loaded up his shopping cart with cat food, various grocery items and a computer and then walked out of Wal-Mart.

According to a police report released today, an asset protection associate from the Chestnut Commons Wal-Mart went to the Elyria police station last night to report a similar incident from the night before.

According to the report, a man — later identified as Ferron — entered the Chestnut Commons Wal-Mart through the grocery entrance, where he selected several items, including fruit juice, beer and laundry soap. He then went to the shoe department, and put a pair of work boots in his cart.

Next he went to the electronics department and placed a 47-inch LG HDTV in his shopping cart before entering the sporting goods department and cutting the security wrap off the TV.

In the Midway Wal-Mart incident, Ferron was observed by store security pushing a shopping cart with a large computer in it around the store. He then entered the infant department and used needle-nosed pliers to cut the security device off the computer. He wrapped the security device in towels and placed it on a shelf.

At the Chestnut Commons Wal-Mart, Ferron ignored a greeter who asked for a receipt as he left the store and fled with the car full of unpaid merchandise, according to the police report.

According to the report, he put the TV in a maroon minivan and fled the area, leaving the rest of the merchandise in the cart in the parking lot.

The report listed the total merchandise value at $910.68.

According to the report, Ferron was arrested shortly after the Chestnut Commons incident following a chase near the Midway Mall Wal-Mart.

LORAIN — A man was treated at Community Regional Medical Center for a gunshot wound he received yesterday afternoon in South Lorain, according to a Lorain police report.

According to the report, an officer was dispatched to the hospital at about 6 p.m. Noel Cruz, 19, was bleeding from his right ankle, the report said.

Cruz told officers he and a friend were walking eastbound from Globe Avenue in the 1700 block of East 30th Street when they heard a “popping/firecracker” sound. Both males began to run and ran all the way to the friend’s house on East 30th Street.

Once they arrived, Cruz realized he had a burning sensation in his ankle and was bleeding. He and his friend tried cleaning the wound, but, upon realizing it was more serious, asked another friend to drive Cruz to the hospital.

None of the men knew where the gunshots had come from, knew of any problems or why anyone would want to shoot them, they told police.

Officers collected gunshot residue evidence from Cruz and took photographs of his wound, all of which were entered into evidence.

The bullet was lodged in Cruz’s foot, the report said. Hospital staff were told to contact police when the bullet is removed so it can be entered into evidence as well. Cruz was listed in good condition today, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

MEDINA — Embarking on its 165th year, the Medina County Fair showcases the area’s agriculture, ingenuity and love for fair food.
“The fair is place for community and fun,” spokeswoman Pam Oberholtzer said.
The fair begins Monday and runs through Aug. 8 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the county fairgrounds, 710 W. Smith Road.
While some […]

CLEVELAND — The Indians lost a game, a starting pitcher and a starting catcher Thursday night at Pro­gressive Field. Talk about a terrible trifecta.

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Dropping the series finale in embarrassing fashion to the Yankees, 11-4, Cleveland also saw injuries strike right-hander Mitch Talbot and Carlos Santana, both players leaving the game prematurely.

The lopsided score wasn’t the only thing that left the Indians red-faced. With their bullpen depleted, Cleveland had to call on infielder Andy Marte to pitch the ninth inning.

He retired the side, looking more effective than some of the other pitchers that took the mound for the Indians.

“That’s not something I like to do,” said manager Manny Acta of employing a position player to pitch. “I did it because we had to. That looks like a mockery of the game, but we had no choice. Some people find it funny but it’s not funny to me.”

Acta was put in the position thanks to a 2 2/3-inning effort from Fausto Carmona on Wednesday, followed by two innings from Talbot.

Talbot departed in the third inning with a midback strain, while Santana was removed to start the eighth after being hit on the left knee by a low pitch from Indians reliever Joe Smith in the seventh.

The prognosis on Santana, who finished the sev­enth inning, is more positive.

“Santana’s going to be OK,” Acta said. “We took him out as a precaution. He stayed on the bench and should be ready to go (tonight).”

More photos below.

Talbot will not make the trip to Toronto for the Indians’ series against the Blue Jays, which begins tonight. He will remain in Cleveland and undergo an MRI today.

Acta said Talbot began feeling tightness in his back after the first inning. The righthander tried to pitch through it but after allowing a leadoff single in the third to Colin Curtis and throwing two balls to the following batter, Derek Jeter, he was removed.

Even with Talbot out of the game early, the Indians were still in it until the Yankees erupted for seven runs in the seventh inning off a Cleveland bullpen that had been extremely stingy as of late.

The disastrous seventh paved the way for Marte to take the mound in the final inning.

Marte threw three straight balls to the first batter he faced, Robinson Cano, before inducing the Yankees’ second baseman to ground out. He then struck out Nick Swisher for the second out.

“I now have a new most embarrassing moment,” Swisher said. “He had some run on his ball. I was sitting on the breaking ball and he gassed me upstairs.”

Marte retired Brett Gardner on a lineout to third for the final out, pumping his fist after Jayson Nix made the catch.

“Everybody was laughing,” Marte said. “(Acta) told me the inning before. I said, ‘Are you sure?’” “We talked to Marte and told him to just throw strikes,” Acta said. “He came up with a pretty good example of what you can accomplish by throwing strikes.”

Marte was the first position player to pitch for the Indians since catcher Tim Laker on April 20, 2004.

The Indians weren’t able to win the series against the best team in baseball, losing three of four games, but they did keep Alex Rodriguez from hitting his 600th home run. Rodriguez, who went hitless in the first two games, went 1-for-4 with three RBIs in the finale. He struck out in his final at-bat off Jess Todd in the eighth.

The Indians aren’t only dealing with injuries to Talbot and Santana. Designated hitter Travis Hafner was scratched from the lineup with right shoulder soreness, the same ailment that has plagued Hafner for close to three seasons.

“He wasn’t able to play,” Acta said. “His shoulder was bothering him and he’s dayto- day. We can’t afford to have our hands tied. That’s something we’re going to have to evaluate.”

Cleveland is expected to make a move today for bullpen assistance.

One of the largest crowds of the season — 34,455 — took in the series finale, with the four-game attendance totaling 112,060.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.