Fairlawn Police Blotter: Lottery Ticket Turns Misdemeanor into Felony

A Cleveland man was arrested Monday for felony drug possession after he was detained in connection with a petty theft.

According to a police report, a employee saw two men in the electronics section at about 4:16 p.m. Monday; one used an utility knife to cut a cell phone from its display while the other acted as a lookout.

Both men left the store without paying for the phone, which was valued at $179.99.

Officers found the men and a female passenger in a white Kia in the store parking lot. A search of the license plate showed that driver Ivan K. Muntyan, 26, of Cleveland, was wanted on two warrants and was driving on a suspended license.

During a search of Muntyan's car, police found a substance that tested positive for heroin. The drug was wrapped in brown paper folded inside a lottery ticket, in a wallet that contained a credit card issued in the name of Ivan Muntyan.

Both Muntyan and passenger Mikhail Muntyan, 20, also of Cleveland, denied owning the wallet.

Two hypodermic syringes, a utility knife and three knives also were discovered in the search.  

The female passenger was released without charges.

Mikhail Muntyan was charged with misdemeanor theft.

Ivan Muntyan was charged with felony possession of heroin, and misdemeanor charges of possession of drug abuse instruments, theft and illegal use or possession of a drug. He was taken to the Summit County Jail and is held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

For questions about this blotter, email Editor Kymberli.Hagelberg@patch.com.