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From the Metro Desk of Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com, Ohio's No 1 and No 2 online Black newspapers (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com) and (www.clevelandurbannews.com). Reach us by phone at 216-659-0473 and by email at editor@clevelandurbannews.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio- Cleveland Ward 2 Councilman Zack Reed (pictured) began his 10 days jail sentence for a third DUI conviction at a Solon, Ohio jail, arrangements made after Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and the judge in the case supported Reed's request not to be housed in Cleveland jail or any of its facilities. This was to allegedly avoid potential harassment, according to Jackson spokesperson Maureen Harper. He will be out in time for the November 5 general election for Cleveland mayor and city council. He faces Marcus Henley after he won the nonpartisan primary earlier this month by a landslide.
A Cleveland Municipal Court jury found Reed guilty last month of a third DUI. His license will remain suspended until 2015, though he can drive with alcohol monitoring devices, court records show. He served 10 days in 2008 for a second DUI but did no jail time for the first occurrence in 2005.
Visiting former Willoughby, Ohio judge Larry Allen, whom Republican Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor personally handpicked out of Lake County, presided over the case after the original judge, Cleveland Judge Pinkey Carr, refused it.
The city lawmaker faced 10 days to six months in jail, and a $350 fine.
"I do have a problem and I am going to do everything I can to show the judge that I am getting help," said Reed in an interview after the verdict with Cleveland Urban News.Com, Ohio's most read online Black newspaper.
Among those at the sentencing were Cleveland Ward 8 Councilman Jeff Johnson and a group of Cleveland area Black clergy, including Greater Love Missionary Baptist Church Bishop Eugene Ward.
Reed, 51, did not take the stand in his own defense at trial.
One of nine Black council persons on the 19- seat Cleveland City Council, Reed represents parts of the impoverished predominantly Black Mount Pleasant and Kinsman neighborhoods on Cleveland's largely Black east side. He has been on city council about a decade and a quarter.
