CLEVELAND (WJW) — Multiple sources tell the Fox 8 I-Team Cleveland police struggled early Sunday morning with wild street takeovers. Cleveland police addressed the situation during a press conference late Sunday morning.
We learned crowds of cars, some doing stunts, tied up multiple locations during the overnight hours:
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W. 25th and Lorain Ave.
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Roses Plaza, 3250 W. 65th
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E. 105th and Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
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E. 93rd and Opportunity Corridor
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E. 55th and Woodland Ave.
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Westbound I-90 near W. 14th
The street takeovers have been a problem all summer.
It started months ago when a crowd of cars took over Playhouse Square and drove in circles around a fire underneath the chandelier.
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During the press conference Sunday, Chief of Police Dorothy Todd, said the groups causing the chaos are comprised of local people and those coming from other cities, including Cincinnati.
Police learned late Saturday evening from an Instagram post about the possibility of the street takeover. Todd said they immediately started investigating the validity of the post and prepared officers to be on the lookout for suspicious activity.
Officers responded to several locations and attempted to stop the activity which included cars spinning in intersections Todd said. At least one officer was struck by someone firing an airsoft gun, and citizens reported having firearms pointed at them, Todd said. Fireworks were also set off.
There were no reports of serious injuries or damage to property.
Sgt. Wilfredo Diaz, the public information officer with Cleveland Division of Police, told the I-team that arrests were made at various locations, but police are still trying to determine who and if they are connected to the incidents.
“We take this very serious, this is more than a traffic issue,” said Todd.” This is not just, ya know, impeding the flow of traffic. These are felony crimes.”
Todd said the groups are communicating through locked social media accounts about where to meet, and sharing the location of law enforcement as well.
Many of those involved have been wearing masks and using fake license plates, making it harder for identification purposes.
“Someone will get hurt if this continues,” said Todd, who added they are setting up a task force to internally investigate these incidents. State and federal resources will be used as well.
“We at the Cleveland Division of Police are committed to making arrests for the incidents that happened last night,” said Todd. “And anyone considering to come here for that type of activity, it is not acceptable in the city of Cleveland, it is not acceptable anywhere. It’s dangerous, and you may see this as a fun activity, but someone will get hurt if this continues.”
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Council President Blaine Griffin also addressed the incident.
“This is unacceptable,” said Griffin. “People are living in fear. We need more police, we need more intelligence to track these down. This has to stop. My residents are irate. “
Todd said this trend of large takeovers is happening in other cities including Indianapolis, Philadelphia and Columbus.
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