Trial underway for shoplifter accused of attacking Lakewood store employee with machete

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Testimony continues in the trial for Chawn Cloyd, the man who allegedly attacked a Lakewood store employee with a machete style knife last February.

Cloyd, 43, was indicted on the charges of aggravated robbery, robbery and felonious assault for the Feb. 10, 2022 assault.

Lakewood police said the Akron man attacked an employee at Moon’s Food Store at the corner of Bunts Road and Detroit Avenue.

Lakewood Police Captain William Albrecht said the employee suffered a three to four inch cut on his face.

The employee told officers the attack happened as he was escorting the possible shoplifter out of the store.

After the attack in the store’s parking lot, police said Cloyd ran from the scene, but was found a short time later at the Lakewood Emergency Department where he was using the restroom to wash blood off of himself.

In day 2 of the trial, Detective Dan Hilfiker with Lakewood police pulled out the boot and vest Cloyd allegedly wore that violent night. Blood stains were still there from the worker’s cut on his face.

“There are blood droplets all over it. Even on the back you see blood and inside the hood” said Hilfiker. .

However, the defense attempted to poke holes the argument.

Hilfiker admitted to the defense Cloyd was calm during the arrest and had no items from Moon’s Food Store when police searched his bag.

“Items that were retrieved from their bookbag, none of those you have reason to believe it came from Moon’s Food Store?” said the defense. “Correct” answered Hilfiker.

Cloyd’s jury trial began on Jan. 17 in front of Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Judge Deena Calabrese.

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