A 33-year-old Grafton man was arrested early Friday morning, August 1, outside the McDonald’s on Broad Street in Elyria after allegedly resisting officers, carrying an axe, and appearing to be under the influence of drugs.
According to a report from the Elyria Police Department, officers responded to a call for a suspicious person shortly before 7:45 a.m. Witnesses said a man in a gray shirt was walking through the parking lot with an axe, acting erratically, and speaking to people in the drive-thru lane.
Police located the man near the scene. The officer observed that the man, later identified as Jonathon Vanetta, appeared disoriented. According to the report, he had slurred speech, unsteady balance, and appeared to be under the influence of narcotics. Vanetta initially claimed to have handed the axe to a McDonald’s employee.
Officers attempted to detain him, but he allegedly pulled his arms away and refused to enter the patrol vehicle. He eventually complied. Vanetta provided a false name, date of birth, and Social Security number before officers identified him through the LEADS database. Records confirmed multiple active warrants issued through the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies.
During transport to the Lorain County Jail, Vanetta reportedly admitted to relapsing on drugs and said he was afraid to face his probation officer. “I’m trying to change my life, dude. But of course I relapsed and I’m scared to go see my P.O.,” he told the officer, according to the report.
Vanetta is charged with obstructing official business and disorderly conduct while intoxicated. He is being held at the Lorain County Jail on a $1,000 bond. Court records show he is scheduled to appear in Elyria Municipal Court today, August 4.
According to public records, Vanetta has a prior history of criminal charges in Lorain County, including breaking and entering, theft, criminal damaging, and felony heroin possession. He is currently classified as a maximum-security inmate. His current booking also includes a charge of contempt of court in a 2023 felony case.
No injuries were reported during the incident, and officers confirmed that the axe was safely recovered.
Editor’s Note: The image published with this article was obtained through publicly available jail records. Lorain Daily publishes booking photos only when the individual has a relevant criminal history and the incident involves public safety concerns.