Listen to the only 911 call during the Cincinnati fight
Hearing a single 911 call after multiple battles broke out in the city on July 26.
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Viral videos of fighting in downtown Cincinnati have put the city in national focus. Now, local officials are working to pick up the debris, mitigate crimes and address public safety issues.
Gov. Mike Dewine said on July 30 that the Ohio State Highway Patrol is “working and contacting” with the Cincinnati Police Department after Mayor Aftab Pureval accepted his proposal for certain law enforcement assistance.
Pureval, who left Cincinnati on a long-term planned family vacation, expressed his “deep appreciation” for the governor and his assistance to local law enforcement.
Police Chief provides latest news about virus battle videos, resulting in 5 arrests
Police Chief Terri Theetge said in a July 28 press conference that a virus fight in downtown Cincinnati resulted in five arrests.
Cincinnati Police Department
How Ohio will help Cincinnati fight crime
In an interview with WLW radio host Bill Cunningham, Dewine said the support will include “actual data analysis” of crimes in Cincinnati, in addition to using helicopters to conduct “crime suspicious searches and mitigate vehicle pursuits.”
The state highway patrol will also focus on traffic law enforcement to “release” local officials to investigate other crimes.
“Fighting violence is our most pressing challenge and this coordination and support from Ohio will help our local law enforcement ensure the safety of all our residents,” he said.
Pureval added that he will shorten his holiday on just four days on the evening of July 31 and then return to Cincinnati. He plans to announce on August 1 how the city will combat crime and address public safety issues.
Security Council member Victoria Park postal spark rebounds
The response of Cincinnati Council members to one of several videos of her fight against the virus triggered an online rebound.
“They beg for that beating!” Councilwoman Victoria Parks posted on Facebook at 4:50 a.m. Sunday, July 27 in response to videos showing some of the fights. “I'm grateful for the whole story.”
On July 31, the park responded to the controversy by citing freedom of speech.
“In this country, we have freedom of speech, but you probably don't encounter crowded theaters and scream at fire,” Parks told The Inquirer.
Democratic lawmaker Meeka Owens condemned the park's comments on July 31.
“It is never acceptable to comment that it is violent,” Owens said in a statement. She said council members should not speculate on the motivation for the fight. She said the park’s comments did not reflect the council’s comments. But when she advocates violence as a means of retribution, it is not good for the city or the area. ” Owens said.
Deputy Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney also issued a statement on July 31 saying the parliament condemned the violent actions of the agitators of the fight and the violent actions of the revengeers.
“Opportunists are trying to use this incident as a way to split us racially and politically and abandon our big cities with false and negative attitudes,” Kearney said. “Every city is facing challenges, we face challenges. We have to stand together and work for justice because we know the strength and victory of the Cincinnati United.”
Vivek Ramaswamy hosts Cincinnati City Hall
Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy posted on X on July 30, and he plans to host City Hall on Monday, August 4, with former Cincinnati Deputy Mayor Chris Smitherman.
The time and location of the town hall has not been set yet.
“We plan to invite city officials, community leaders and any victims of Friday's attacks hope to participate,” Ramaswami said in the Post.
Who is involved in the Cincinnati fight?
Montianez Merriweather, 34; Dekyra Vernon, 24; Jermaine Matthews, 39, faces charges including felony assault and aggravated riots.
Merriweather appeared in Bond when police said he participated in an early morning fight in downtown Cincinnati on July 26. He made a $500,000 bond in Hamilton County Municipal Court on July 30. Matthews received $100,000 in margin, although the judge is expected to establish an additional margin on July 31.
Vernon's bonds were set at $200,000.
Police said they also identified two other suspects, but reportedly they have not been detained as of the evening of July 30.
What happened to the Cincinnati fight?
Some videos posted on social media show that the fight began with two men circling each other and a group of people gathered together. There were several people walking between them, obviously trying to calm them down. One man seemed to hit the other.
At that time, more and more people joined in, attacking the man who dealt with, kicked and punched him after he fell.
Later, in the video, a man was also seen slamming a woman in the face, causing her to fall to the ground, where she remained motionless, probably in a coma until a person helped her back up.
Cincinnati police detective Barney Blank said video of the incident showed Merriweather walking to Matthews, whispering to him, approaching a victim from behind, and then hitting him in the face.
Frank said Merriweather and Matthews then chased the victim who was trying to retreat to the ground and then slammed him. Detective added that Merriweather followed another man.
“We believe he coordinated this with Mr. Matthews,” Black said.
Brand added that Matthews was seen in the video, knocking the victim to the ground and kicking him in the face and chest several times before chasing another victim.
Black said Vernon was a bystander watching the fight when she approached and beat a Russian woman to try to protect the person on the ground.
Detectives said Vernon did not participate in any arguments before the fight. “She just inserted herself into a fight in the street,” Blank said.
Who was injured in the Cincinnati battle?
“The next day, the two victims did go to the hospital, without life-threatening injuries, were treated and released,” Cincinnati Police Department spokesman Jonathan Cunningham told USA Today in an email on Tuesday, July 29.
He added that he had no idea what their follow-up care status was.
Court documents listed three men and one woman as victims of the fight.
Police said a Russian woman was accused of being beaten back to her home country once accused of punching. She is not the same woman listed in the court documents.
Is the FBI investigating a fight in Cincinnati?
Hamilton County Attorney Connie Pillich previously said in a statement to the inquirer that she would prosecute the assailant in the fight “to the maximum extent of the law.”
U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno said the FBI is investigating the U.S. Attorney General's order, but the inquirer was unable to confirm the formal investigation.
The inquirer will update this development news report.
Enquirer reporters Quinlan Bentley, David Ferrara, Scott Wartman and Erin Glynn contributed to the report.