Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said Monday during a press conference that five people have been charged in connection with a brutal street fight that went viral online early Saturday.
Video footage circulated online capturing a massive brawl at Elm and Fourth Streets early Saturday morning. The brawl reportedly began after a man who allegedly appeared intoxicated returned to the scene, allegedly making racial comments, according to FOX19. During a press briefing on Monday, Theetge said the first call about the incident came in around 3:06 a.m., with officers arriving on the scene just six minutes later.
According to officials, by the time officers arrived, the fight had ended, with most of the participants having already left.
“At this time, we have victims and suspects identified, and we have charged five people in this offense,” Theetge said. “I’m not going to release that information to you. I will say if individuals were down there and participated in this event, it would be in their best interest to come turn themselves in at one of our police districts.”
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“We have five we have charged and anticipate more,” Theetge added. “Let me be clear. Anyone, anyone who put their hands on another individual during this incident in an attempt to cause harm will face consequences. I don’t care which side of the incident or the fight they were on. If they place their hands on somebody in an attempt to cause harm, that is unacceptable.”
In the viral video, the fight appeared to begin among three men, with one eventually falling to the ground while repeatedly being stomped on. The brawl continued among others in the crowd, with the nearly two-minute-long video ending as a woman appeared to be knocked unconscious, lying in the street.
While Theetge applauded the tips sent to officials, she called out the estimated 100 people who watched the incident, saying that only “one phone call” had been made. The Cincinnati police chief said it “is unacceptable” in Cincinnati that only “one person did the right thing and called 911.”
The investigation is still ongoing, with Theetge noting that all potential charges are being considered for everyone involved — including local establishments that may have “over-served” some of the participants.
According to a Department of Justice official, the FBI, at Attorney General Pam Bondi’s direction, has launched an investigation and is already interviewing suspects.
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Author: Hailey Gomez
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