Colin Flaherty, author of Don't Make the Black Kids Angry, reviews and gives commentary on news with headlines "Cleveland pastor wants to include everyone on talks about how to make the city safer" and "Man charged with killing couple at Cleveland car lot"
By: Frank Wiley Posted: 8:54 AM, Aug 8, 2018
CLEVELAND - In February, an organization called the Indy Ten Point Coalition wanted to expand its Indianapolis efforts in Cleveland to reduce violence and keep the streets safer. Since then, some residents said they’d like to step away and try another solution.
"People that have a voice, but really haven't been invited to the table,” said Kim Snyder. “Build relationship between all of us."
Snyder is a pastor in Cleveland. She said she wants to invite pastors, politicians, community activists, police, and ex-gang members to have regular conversations about how to make Cleveland safer, and how to erase racism.
"I would like to see more white people on the streets, more pastors on the streets,” said Snyder. "I think the city is missing love, and we need to build these bridges. It’s our job to be on the streets, and the streets are bad because we haven't been there. If every church got together, one weekend and rose up… we could change our city in a weekend."
Updated Jun 14, 2017; Posted Jun 13, 2017
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A man who served nine years in prison for an aggravated robbery is now charged in connection with slaying of a couple at their car lot during another robbery.
Joseph McAlpine, 29, is accused of being one of two people who killed Michael Kuznik, 47, and Trina Tomola, 46, on April 14 at the couple's car dealership, Mr. Car's on East 185th Street.
DNA from the car lot connected McAlpine to the slayings, court records say.
The assailants also killed the couple's dog. They stole surveillance equipment and computers that contained records of purchases from the store.
Investigators previously said it appeared the assailants were familiar with the business. Police scoured the neighborhood looking for surveillance videos from other businesses but came up empty.
At least two cars were stolen from the lot, a 2006 BMW 528I, which was later found abandoned in the 3300 block of West 48th Street.
A second car, a blue 2006 Mercedes SL, was not found. Police also tested a bag of keys found in a nearby park, and had the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner swab the couple's dead dog to see if he bit the assailants and had their DNA in his mouth.
McAlpine was released from prison in August 2016, according to state prison records.
