More charges for Amherst man in I-90 chase, brief Westlake standoff

Further charges are pending for an Amherst man who led authorities in two counties on a chase Wednesday on Interstate 90 that began in Lorain and ended with his arrest in Westlake. Westlake police Capt. Gerald Vogel said in an email that his department was going to charge Richard Roule, 32, of Amherst, with failure to comply and inducing panic, both misdemeanors, as a result of the July 30 chase. Those charges had not been officially filed in Rocky River Municipal Court as of 7 p.m. Monday. In the meantime, Roule was being held on more than $1.1 million bond in the Lorain County Jail ahead of further court dates on 10 criminal charges including aggravated burglary, abduction, failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, grand theft of a motor vehicle and obstructing official business creating a risk of physical harm, all felonies, and a misdemeanor assault charge. The chase on I-90 and standoff in Westlake lasted about an hour. A preliminary report by Westlake police said the Lorain County Sheriff's Office chased a reportedly stolen black Nissan on Interstate 90 into Westlake, in Cuyahoga County just east of the Lorain County line, shortly after 2:30 p.m. that day. The pursuit began in the city of Lorain, where Lorain County deputies were on patrol covering for Lorain police officers attending the funeral that same day of Officer Phillip Wagner, who was shot and killed July 23 while eating lunch in his patrol car. Roule was wanted in Lorain County on charges including aggravated burglary, abduction, failure to comply, domestic violence, assault and receiving stolen property, according to Westlake police. Westlake officers gave chase, shutting down city streets as they did, before Roule stopped near the Sonesta Suites Hotel on Clemens Road. A log of radio calls, provided by Westlake police, said Roule was moving around in the car, and put an object to his head. Multiple area SWAT teams were called to respond, and both Lorain County SWAT and Westshore Enforcement Bureau SWAT were at the scene, authorities later said. Roule also was seen smoking a methamphetamine pipe, according to Westlake police. Police later figured out that Roule wrapped a yellow DeWalt power drill in a towel and put it to his head pretending it was a gun. Roule also spoke to a Lorain County Sheriff's Office drone that was flown in to watch him. "Male stated to the drone he wanted to die," according to a radio log provided by Westlake police. In a report, a Westlake police officer referred to Roule's behavior as possible "suicide by cop," or trying to force police officers to shoot him. Westlake police discussed possibly using pepper spray/pepper gas or less-than-lethal ammunition on Roule, according to a report. After Roule refused to surrender to police negotiators and SWAT, Westlake Police K-9 Timmy was set loose just before 3:30 p.m. Going into the car through the open car door, the dog bit Roule on the left wrist and pulled him out and into the hands of officers. An officer put a tourniquet on Roule's bleeding left arm, and Roule was taken to University Hospitals St. John Medical Center in police custody for treatment. Nearby businesses were advised to close their doors and people in the area told to stay inside while officers negotiated with Roule, according to Westlake police. The day's 90 degree-plus heat also made efforts to defuse the situation difficult, according to a police report. "This incident was completely avoidable if Roule would have just complied with officers' orders," according to a police report. Roule has a lengthy criminal record in Lorain County, including two open felony cases filed in March in Common Pleas Court. Roule had pleaded not guilty in those cases and was free on bond when he led police on Wednesday's chase. Roule previously served time in prison for his role in a 2013 nonfatal shooting in Lorain, according to court records and Chronicle-Telegram archives. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.