Pedestrians shaken by sidewalk driver

8/9/2001

Lorie Schumer and Sherril Clark-Ross were handling a civil matter yesterday downtown when they had to jump out of the way of a pickup truck that nearly hit them as they were walking on a sidewalk on North Erie Street, according to police.

The driver, Gregory Cerveny, 38, of 6033 320th St., was charged with three counts of felonious assault after he drove around the Civic Center Mall and headed the wrong way on the sidewalk and on North Erie about 11:40 a.m., police said. He was apprehended in front of the Safety Building by law enforcement officers.

Ms. Schumer, 37, of South Toledo, and Ms. Clark-Ross, 52, of West Toledo, were treated for minor injuries, police said.

Police Officer Charles Schwartz was walking from the Toledo Municipal Court building on North Erie when he saw the truck driving north. It left the road near Constitution Avenue and crossed the curb. It traveled toward the federal court building, 1816 Spielbusch Ave., nearly hit a pedestrian, and continued around the Civic Center Mall, police said.

The officer ran after the truck, yelling for the driver to stop. The driver disobeyed the commands and drove toward the officer. He then headed toward North Erie, where he again failed to stop for police orders. He put the truck into reverse and nearly hit an officer, police said.

The driver then headed south on North Erie, nearly causing several accidents with northbound traffic on the one-way street. He drove onto the sidewalk and toward the Toledo Safety Building and Ms. Schumer and Ms. Clark-Ross.

He finally stopped in front of the Safety Building, which houses police headquarters, where he was met be several law enforcement officers.