Tag: I-Team

CLEVELAND (WJW) – The FOX 8 I-Team found no records of regular fire safety inspections for years before flames broke out this month at a downtown high-rise apartment building.

We investigated since we’ve recently exposed many gaps in city fire safety checks.

Records show the last inspections at the Luckman Building had been done about four years ago. Two weeks ago, a fire at the Luckman exposed safety hazards.

Cleveland firefighters were called to the building at 12th and Chester.

“The pipes burst and the water was just pelting us. Smoke started filling the hallways and everybody started sprinting down,” said resident Andi Wilson. “I ran from the 18th floor stairwell, all the way down.”

We shared findings showing the most recent inspection records we could find were from 2020.

“Disappointed, but not surprised,” Wilson said. “Everybody deserves to live in a healthy and safe environment.”

Firefighters say the incident this month involved flames in a trash chute, but records show firefighters found “blocked and locked emergency exits.”

They also found the sprinkler system not working, the fire alarm system not working properly and building pipes bursting when needed by firefighters.

So, we did some digging to find the last time fire inspectors had been done in that building. We asked about sprinklers, alarms and pipes. The most recent inspection records show dates in 2020. Those records are signed by a private company and Cleveland Fire.

The fire chief recently told city council that inspectors get into every high-rise every year.

“In the course of an entire year, we have covered all buildings. All these systems are covered,” said Chief Anthony Luke at a public safety committee meeting.

On that same day, he said the same thing to the I-Team.

“So, you’re in all those high-rise buildings every year?” we asked.

“All high-rise buildings, every year,” the chief answered.

Yet, we recently found records showing alarm and sprinkler inspections in 2023 done in only about a third of the city’s high-rises.

And now, the gap at the Luckman Building.

By phone, a man speaking for the ownership told the I-Team, “It comes as a surprise to me to hear that. There have been three reputable property management companies maintaining the building.”

Andi expects all fire regulations to be followed and enforced.

“Yeah, those rules are in place for a very good reason,” she said.

Cleveland Fire tells us the most serious problems found after that high-rise fire this month have been corrected.

However, the fire department would not make anyone available to answer questions on camera for the I-Team.

***Watch previous coverage in the video above.***

CLEVELAND (WJW) – A teenage mother appeared in court this week and admitted to two charges of gross abuse of a corpse, almost a year after the bodies of her her twin babies were found in the trash.

According to court documents obtained by the FOX 8 I-Team following a public records request, the 17-year-old was also facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, endangering children and tampering with evidence.

Those charges were dismissed by the prosecutor and the teen “voluntarily admitted to the allegations of the Amended Complaint,” the records state.

She is scheduled to be sentenced on the two felony 5 charges at 9:30 on June 5 in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court.

Cleveland police told the I-Team the bodies of the infants were found around 7:20 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2023  inside a trash can along Ludlow Road.

The infant victims were twins and appeared to be born early at about 30 weeks gestation.

The babies were born a few days before their bodies were discovered. Police said the girl’s mother did not know her daughter was pregnant.

CLEVELAND (WJW) – Some city councilmembers are upset about the hiring of the new administrator in the Department of Public Safety, Special Assistant Phillip McHugh, and believe he should resign or be fired.

Councilmembers Kevin Conwell and Richard Starr told the FOX 8 I-Team they are concerned  because McHugh was accused of civil rights violations while working as a police detective in Washington, D.C. 

“It’s wrong,” said Starr. “It is showing that the mayor just doesn’t care about doing things right.”

The two councilmen also pointed out that McHugh was Mayor Justin Bibb’s college roommate.

“As a mayor, you are suppose to be in love with your residents,” Conwell said. “Why put someone over the residents of the city of Cleveland as well as over the rank and file of the fire and department that has had violations?”

Conwell also pointed out that an elderly African American couple filed a federal lawsuit in 2016 accusing McHugh of violating their civil rights. The suit was later settled.

McHugh, who started working for the city in March, was not available to discuss the situation.

City officials, however, said they stand by their decision to hire McHugh.

“The case against Phil was dismissed before the city settled,” said Sarah Johnson, communications chief for the city of Cleveland. “His former supervisors sing his praises and had nothing but wonderful things to say about Mr. McHugh. If you look at his resume, you can see he has continued advancement and he has been promoted throughout his career.”

CLEVELAND (WJW) – The FOX 8 I-Team has found a new safety official in Cleveland did not have to take a drug test or a physical. So, we investigated why.

We uncovered an internal email sent as the city hired a new administrator in the Department of Public Safety, Special Assistant Phillip McHugh.

The email said, “Yes, no drug screen and no physical are necessary for his position.”

The job is a position at the top levels of city hall overseeing police, fire and EMS.

That memo saying no drug test or physical was needed stunned Councilman Richard Starr.

“Someone who’s involved in handling safety, advising the safety director, don’t have to take no drug test?” he said. “Why does an individual in senior leadership get a privilege, special privilege, that you don’t give to those on the ground doing the work?”

In fact, we surprised the head of the police union. Andy Gasiewski told us this kind of testing just came up with the hiring of new officers.

“When they were doing the process for the recent academy, some of the individuals had to be taken out of the process because they didn’t have the medical side or the testing done,” he said.

We reached out to the mayor’s office asking why the new safety advisor did not have to undergo a physical or take a drug test.

In an email, the mayor’s office said that testing is not required for that particular job. The city changed its policy in December, telling us that was done based on state and federal law.

A spokesperson added that McHugh did have to go through a background check, and,
“Mr. McHugh was identified as the most qualified candidate for the role.”

Still, the councilman has more questions.

“Just because you’re in senior leadership, or in the cabinet, does not mean you’re better or you should be able to get special privileges,” Richard Starr said.

Starr has also raised concerns about McHugh’s background. Years ago, while working in Washington, DC, he was the target of a civil rights lawsuit.

The mayor’s office statement also said, in part:

“Mr. McHugh has dedicated his life to public service. His resume reflects continuous advancement, and he has received several commendations, honors and awards throughout his career including as Officer of the Year, two United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Awards for Public Service, and a Life Saving Award for his successful negotiation with and physical rescue of a suicidal child from a freeway overpass.

“The administration is aware that Mr. McHugh was a party in a lawsuit stemming from a criminal investigation he conducted in conjunction with the United States Attorney’s Office nearly ten years ago in Washington, DC. All claims made against Mr. McHugh were dismissed with prejudice prior to the disposition of the matter and there was no finding of wrongdoing by the court or Mr. McHugh’s former employer. Throughout his career, there has never been a sustained finding related to Mr. McHugh’s bias or integrity.”  

The statement included a quote from Interim Chief Director of Public Safety Wayne Drummond.

“I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to improve public safety across the city,” he said. 

Councilman Starr said he wants the city council to hold a hearing on this hiring and the city policies.

CLEVELAND (WJW) — Video released to the FOX 8 I-Team shows an RTA bus hitting a woman in a crosswalk. And, we found the bus driver had been wanted by the court for another accident.

The video makes you wonder how a woman survived. We also wondered how the bus driver didn’t see her. And, we’ve wondered why the driver’s bosses didn’t know what we found in court records.

Early one evening last month, an RTA bus barreled into Marsha Ganger. It happened near West 6th Street and Superior Avenue as she walked in a crosswalk.

“Then I saw the bus coming. It looked like a wall was coming. I didn’t know which way to go. And, then, it hit me,” she told the I-Team. “It’s, like, I saw that bus coming at me, and it just reminded me, like, something out of a movie.”

The crash stunned Ganger, and we surprised her, too, with what we found out about the bus driver.

“I don’t know what to think about it,” she said. “I just wish I wasn’t involved, at all. Yeah, it’s pretty scary.”

By phone, we made contact with bus driver David Burkhalter.

“I didn’t even see her,” he said. “I didn’t even realize I had hit her.”

Burkhalter got fired after this incident.

A police report shows Ganger had the walk sign, and she was in the crosswalk. But, that’s not how the bus driver remembers it.

“She just walked out of nowhere!” he said.

We reminded Burkhalter that we had seen the video, and the woman hit was clearly in the crosswalk.

Burkhalter, then, responded with: “So, she was in the crosswalk? With the white lines? I still didn’t see that lady in that cross walk.”

We also found the bus driver got a ticket for that downtown crash. But, records show he didn’t show up for court.

Then, we also found he got another ticket in 2023 for another crash while driving a bus. And, records show Burkhalter has had a warrant out for his arrest since early last year for not showing up for court for that case, either.”

“You know what, Ed. I can’t tell you nothing about that one,” he said.

He claims he never got the ticket from last year. And, he said he plans to take care of the one for the recent crash.

But, we’ve asked RTA to explain how the driver’s bosses didn’t know he had a warrant for a ticket tied to driving a bus. In fact, records show RTA Police issued the ticket last year as well as the one this year.

RTA has, yet, to explain how Burkhalter continued to drive without taking care of the 2023 case.

We met Ganger heading out to another dental appointment. She told us she is still recovering from her injuries. Still shaken.

“It’s like my teeth hit metal, and I fell down. Just couldn’t believe it,” she said.

CLEVELAND (WJW) – New video and a 911 call released to the FOX 8 I-Team reveals more about what happened in a deadly downtown shooting.

A security camera outside the Cleveland Public Library captured the shooting from a distance. The first 911 call came from an off-duty cop who tried to help.

Look closely at the video and you’ll see action around a bus stop on the edge of Public Square. Then, at least one man runs off. It happened after midnight last week.

Th gunman shot a man multiple times. Police say the suspect ran off and carjacked someone downtown. The victim did not die until days later.

A 911 call shows an off-duty police officer was first on the scene.

“OK, how many shots did you hear?” a dispatcher said.

“About five,” the officer said. “There’s a man down. I’m going to check on him. I’m an off-duty police officer.”

Moments later, you can also hear the officer talking to the victim, saying, “hang on, buddy. Hang on.”

The 911 call also reveals that, at first, police could not find the scene. Buses on Public Square blocked the view. On the security video, you see more than one patrol car passing by the scene with lights flashing.

A report shows, after the carjacking, the suspect drove to the west side, dumped the car and disappeared.

CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team has uncovered new questions about top city of Cleveland managers driving take-home cars.

We found some records missing. Confusion over others. Even no permission forms for officials making headlines over take-home cars.

Last month, Assistant Safety Director Jakimah Dye crashed a city car with kids on board. Last week, the law department told us it has no record of a form giving Dye permission for a take-home car.

And, no record of permission for former Safety Director Karrie Howard.

City policy says everyone driving a take-home car needs to fill out a form outlining justification and insurance. Then, a Department director or the mayor’s office needs to sign that.

Yet, the city found, after that recent crash, Jakimah Dye didn’t have proper insurance. Plus, she told the city she didn’t know the policy against kids in the car.

And, safety director Howard resigned after he admitted to the I-Team that he didn’t know the policy, either.

Howard told us, that week, “You have all of these policies, you know, in play, and sometimes we become familiar with them by (pause) happenstance.”

The mayor recently ordered a review of the city’s take-home car policy. And soon officials will go over that to decide if they should make any changes.

Meantime, consider what we found in asking about records for Dina Wilson, a top Hopkins Airport manager.

The city says, last year, she put 39,000 miles on a city car. We requested Dina Wilson’s records 11 months ago. Days ago, the law department told us, the city has no approval form for her take home car. But now, the city says a supervisor did, in fact, give her permission back in 2022. Then, we also just got an approval form signed a year ago.

Additionally, on one request for gas and mileage, we got back a random 6-month period of time with fuel records involving multiple city employees.

Councilman Brian Kazy said, “It’s, definitely, something we need to take a deeper dive and look into.”

The councilman told the I-Team he wants clear records for take-home cars. No confusion and the same rules for all City employees and managers.

“If there’s supposed to be a memo or permission to take a car home, why not? Who’s holding that person accountable?” he said.

We’ve reported the assistant safety director faces discipline over her take-home car. Her hearing has been postponed a couple of times. It has, now, been set to happen soon.

CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team just went one-on-one with the Cleveland fire chief asking why we’ve found no records for regular safety inspections for high-rises or big buildings in the city.

Our reporting led to a city council hearing, Wednesday, and we caught up with chief Anthony Luke.

Luke claimed, he can explain, saying, “There are records of fire inspections.”

But, again, we’ve reported, the city has said it has no records of regular safety inspections for buildings such as high-rises.

We also asked for safety code violations for 2023, and the fire department sent us other records dating back to the 1940s.

For months, we’ve requested records. And, yet, the chief says the I-Team just never asked the right way.

“The documents that you’re looking for, you haven’t asked for the right documents,” he said.

So, we responded with, “How much clearer can that be? What should we be asking for if we’re asking for inspection records and we’re told there are none?”

Chief Luke said, “There’s a lot of leeway where I can get you the records you want.”

We’ve seen fires break out in Cleveland high-rises.

Still, the chief told us we were wrong to ask for regular inspections at “maximum risk” buildings even though it is outlined in a policy.

The chief added, “High-risk buildings. We don’t have a classification like that.”

We reminded him, “It’s on page one of your policy.”

The chief, then, said, “That policy is incorrect.”

Chief Luke added he has been in the process of updating policies, saying they have inspections in every building every year.

The city also told us it had no records of regular inspections even at city hall. But, consider what we found in the basement. We saw signs telling people to not leave unwanted furniture or files in the hallway due to the fire code. Nonetheless, all throughout long hallways, we saw endless piles of old furniture, pieces of office equipment, and so much more.

The Cleveland City Council Public Safety Committee held a hearing as a result of I-Team reporting.

The chief told council, nothing is getting missed. Although, he added, the fire department needs to keep better records.

“We have to get better at the way we organize our records, the way we retain our records, and the way we report out our records,” the chief said, at the hearing,

During the hearing, the chief also told council, some fire hazards had been found at city rec centers. Yet, weeks ago, the city had given us form letters saying there were no fire safety issues found by the Public Works Dept. at rec centers.

Back out in the hallway, the Chief said, “I can tell the citizens of Cleveland, and you, that safety is not impacted in any way.”

Still, he never explained what to ask for to see proof.