Photos: A Six-Year-Old Boy Saves Christmas in Cleveland

Six-year-old CJ DeJohn was born with half a heart, but on Dec. 17, he showed Cleveland just how big a heart he really has when he became chief of police for a day and solved a crime that saved Christmas.

The Lakewood boy was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare disease which slows or sometimes prevents development of the left side of the heart. The Special Wish Foundation granted him his wish of becoming a police officer for a day, and made his dream come true of wanting to help others.

CJ, dressed in a uniform with a badge and hat, began his crime-fighting journey at Tower City Center where crowds of families and onlookers gathered. The little hero sat on a bench while being serenaded by Mrs. Claus and Tower City's Toy Soldier. Near the end of the performance, Fox 8 News interviewed CJ and the DeJohn family posed for photos before riding off in a colorful train.

CJ and his sister take a ride in Tower City Center

The family then took a pit stop at the new Cleveland 3rd District Police Headquarters to break for lunch, where CJ spoke with his fellow police officers about their "cool belts" and bad guys.

CJ rides on a policeman's motorcycle 

CJ went on a scavenger hunt around the city and found clues that led him to catch the Crump, a Grinch-like criminal, who was trying to destroy Christmas. Along the way, CJ discovered a series of clues that led him to his next destination including a small toy soldier, a key to the city, a basketball, a baseball, and a plush guitar, leading him to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Moondog and CJ bond at the Quicken Loans Arena

CJ's work paid off as he apprehended the elusive, maniacal Crump at the Rock Hall. CJ told the Crump to stop doing bad things. When the Crump asked for forgiveness, CJ gave it to him. The crowd erupted into applause.

The Crump begs forgiveness of CJ, 

CJ saved Christmas and his wish showed everyone what kind of city Cleveland is.

"This gives him a little hope," said Capt. Keith Sulzer. "Everybody's pitched in and I think it's the little things we do that make us a better place. It's a big city but we act like a small city that all these people would come together for this."

The S.W.A.T team and CJ pose for a photo. 

Where in the World is Austin Carr's Jersey?

It's not quite the Lindbergh baby disappearance or the Mona Lisa being lifted from the Louvre, but Austin Carr's retired No. 34 banner is not where it's supposed to be in the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena.

Sometime between WWE Monday Night Raw on Jan. 27 and the Cavaliers' Jan. 28 game against the New Orleans Pelicans, the banner went missing. While the Cavs say there'll be a replacement banner by the team's next home game Feb. 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers, we thought we'd offer a few good ideas on where to start snooping around for its whereabouts.

Mike "The Miz" Mizanin's closet: The Parma-born WWE wrestler is a passionate Cleveland sports fan. And he's no stranger to ladders.

Anthony Bennett is using it as a blanket: The Cavs No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA draft is having a rough rookie season. We wouldn't fault him for wanting to use a fellow No. 1 pick's retired jersey banner for comfort and inspiration.

Austin Carr's living room: After the second half collapse in Sunday's game against the Phoenix Suns, maybe an embarrassed Carr decided to make a statement.

Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org

Local Designer Works with Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj is due to play at the Q on Thursday with Lil Wayne, but she is already carrying a piece of Cleveland with her. That would be her signature microphone, which was designed by Lyndhurst native Katie Marks.

Marks, a 29-year-old Ohio State graduate, inlayed Swarovski crystals into the mic after a local sound company received a request from Minaj. Marks, who is also known as The Dazzler for designing crystal-covered Razor cell phones for Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan in 2005, produced the glittering gizmo within 20 hours.

CM: What was the inspiration behind the microphone?

KM: Everything I do is perfection. Everything is in a perfect line that allows me to interlock the stones. I do grids… [and] very intricate patterns with the crystals.

CM: Who’s your favorite musical artist?

KM: Well, right now Nicki Minaj is my favorite hip-hop artist, but it’s kind of obvious why.

CM: What’s your favorite Nicki Minaj song?

KM: “Your Love.” I’m a total softy. There’s always a layer of love behind all of my art.

CM: If you could make any piece for any person, what would it be, and who would it be for?

KM: I would love to do wall art for Natalie Portman. I don’t know Natalie Portman, but I look at celebrities like her. She’s like that girl next door that you just want to be friends with. I’d want to have a commissioned piece, like a 4-by-5-foot piece on her wall. I can relate to a person like Natalie Portman. She’s like one of these down-to-earth people who made it, and that’s what I want to be.

Stars On Ice at the Q

For most people there is a perception that goes with figure skating — elegant, diva-like and strong-willed. However, Olympic ice dancer Tanith Belbin says none of those associations are true. Instead, she says "nerd" should be on that list.

She says she talked her partner, Ben Agosto, into going on a tour of the Florida Everglades just so she could feel as if she was in the opening credits of CSI: Miami.

“He said ‘I just need to get a red wig so I can be Horatio and we will go out there’,” she laughs, admitting that more often Ben is the one talking her into outdoor activities. “He’s the Bear Grylls, Man vs. Wild, guy."

Belbin’s natural habitat is indoors, on ice and on April 30 that ice will be inside Quicken Loans Arena. Belbin, along with her partner and 16 other figure skaters including men’s Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek, Olympic ice dance silver medalists Charlie White and Meryl Davis, will stop in Cleveland as part of the Stars On Ice tour.

We recently talked to Belbin about everything from her favorite part about Stars On Ice to her thoughts on Cleveland, and what it’s like dating her competition and fellow star Charlie White.

What is your favorite part about Stars on Ice?
I would say just the entire collaborative effort. It is different from any other show, where they just do the exhibition format that just features one skater, one at a time, in a roll call. This show has always had a theme, sort of a cohesive run of it, and you get to do the numbers with skaters from all generations.

What do you think about Cleveland?
We’ve been skating in Cleveland for shows and things like that almost every year since 2000. In fact the last time we were [in Cleveland] doing a show with another tour was a couple of years ago, and we were getting ready to go on the ice to start the show and the Cavs were having a meeting at [Quicken Loans Arena]. The whole team just walked by us down the hallway. They were calling my name on the ice and I was trying to get LeBron James’ autograph.

What is it like competing against the person you’re dating?
It’s interesting. Thankfully his role in my life as my boyfriend is above and beyond any other role that he takes in my mind. When we are competing we’re so focused on what we’re doing individually that it’s never having our wires crossed in our minds. I don’t know if it would work for everyone but it works for us.

If you could tell anyone anything about the Stars on Ice tour what would you say?
I would tell them that seeing skating live is absolutely nothing like seeing it on television. I know that people have said that about different sports before, but skating is one of those that you need to be there to fully take in. I have heard people for years and years who have come to their first skating event and come up to me afterward and say that this is so much better in person, you can see the speed and you can take in the full performance, you can see the facial expressions and Stars has cast itself with not only the best skaters but the best performers.”

Tickets start at $25 (plus a $3 facility fee) and can be purchased by visiting the Quicken Loans Arena website.

The Infomercial King Comes to the Q

Admit it: the Snuggie phenomenon rocked your world for the whole five-minute infomercial. Besides, what’s cooler than a wearable blanket with sleeves? 

But it doesn’t hold a flame to the inventions A.J. “The Infomercial King” Khubani has been selling to the masses. The founder and CEO of TeleBrands “As Seen On TV” products is the man behind useful solutions such as PedEgg, Windshield Wonder and Crazy Critters and he’s always up to hear more great ideas that might make life a little easier. 

He’ll be at Quicken Loans Arena for Lake Erie Monsters Fan Appreciation Night this Saturday to field ideas from fans and future inventors. It’s the Monsters last home appearance of the season, so get your tickets, bring yourself and your very best pitch. Who knows? Your invention could even be the next ShamWow! 

*Become a fan of Inside Business on Facebook for a chance to win some of Khubani's top-sellers today and tomorrow.