LORAIN, Ohio — On Monday, 7-13-15, at approx. 0045 A.M., a traffic accident occurred at Kansas Avenue when a vehicle lost control going N/B over the Railroad Tracks. The vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a house located at 426 Kansas Ave. Neighbors and other citizens approached the crash scene, and several persons attempt to render aid/assistance to the two severely injured 17-year-old males inside.
The occupants of the vehicle where identified as Zachary Goodin 17yoa (Driver) who was incapacitated and clearly injured, and Cameron Friend 17yoa (Passenger) who was unconscious and suffering from severe life-threatening injuries. While others were rendering aid to these boys, a male took the opportunity to video this horrible scene with his cell phone. In the video, the male makes comments that the boys were “Idiots,” and holds his cell phone so that he can film these two boys who were in medical crisis.
The male then opens the back door of this vehicle and leans in to continue capturing video. He walks around to the driver’s side and video tapes the driver, and then returns to the door that he opened and continues to capture video of these boys and the interior of the vehicle.
At no time does the male render assistance to the victims, or even attempt to comfort them. After emergency responders arrive, the 17-year-old passenger, Cameron Friend, is taken to an area hospital where he unfortunately died from his injuries.
The person who took this video does not, at that time, elect to turn the video over to Police to assist in the investigation, instead choosing to post the video to Facebook. He then approaches at least two news organizations and attempts to sell the video of the dying and injured boys for a profit.
After learning that this video existed, the Lorain Detective Bureau investigated the matter and identified the male who took the video as Paul Pelton, 41 of Lorain. Detective Sgt. Buddy Sivert and Capt. Roger Watkins attempted to speak with Pelton at his home and business, but he could not be located.
On 7/15/15, the matter was brought before the Lorain Municipal Court, and a warrant was sought for Pelton’s arrest for the crime of Vehicle Trespass, Codified Ordinance 545.06(d), for knowingly entering into or upon a motor vehicle without consent of the owner/driver or person authorized to give consent. After obtaining the warrant, Pelton was located at his residence and placed under arrest.
The Lorain Police Department would like to remind citizens that they are allowed and encouraged to help one another in emergencies if they can do so safely, and that rendering aid or comfort to a dying young man and his severely injured friend is a commendable and kindly act. Persons are not, however, allowed to trespass into a person’s vehicle criminally and without permission for the seemingly singular cause of filming, a young man’s dying moments, for profit.
Thank you again to the citizens who rendered aid to these young men on this tragic evening.
Captain Roger Watkins
Lorain Police Department-PIO
