I Team: Why Cleveland Police can’t box in suspects

CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team just investigated what Cleveland Police say they can’t do to stop wild street takeovers.

The Chief says police can’t just block in the cars and the crowds.

So, we asked for an explanation outlining why.

New City security video just released gives you a new look at a crowd jumping on a Cleveland Police car, swarming it with an officer inside during a street takeover.

Now, the I-Team worked to get an answer to the question so many of you have been asking.

Why don’t police just box people in during takeovers?

Instead, we’ve seen some officers stay way back from the scene.

Takeovers, last month, went on for hours, and some 9-1-1 callers lost patience waiting for action by police.

“Why, why is nothing done? Why are you guys doing nothing?” one said.

“We can’t, just, box a whole group of people, or vehicles, in, and then start picking them off,” Chief Dorothy Todd told the I-Team in a recent interview.

“Constitutionally, we are required when we start surrounding a group like that to give them an ‘out’ to exit on their own,” she added.

So, where does that come from? For starters, Cleveland Police policy.

It says roadblocks should be designed to “allow the suspect vehicle to proceed slowly through an open route.”

And, officers can “never use occupied or private vehicles as a roadblock.”

“We’re not arresting enough people and holding people accountable,” Council President Blaine Griffin said at a recent City Council meeting.

“We must balance how we, constitutionally, within our force guidelines, address these issues,” the police chief said that the same meeting.

The chief’s office tells us police also have to consider rulings in past court cases on roadblocks. We asked a spokesperson for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

“I am not aware of any ORC (Ohio Revised Code) or case law prohibiting roadblocks,” he told us.

The Chief did say Cleveland Police will look at what has worked and what has not for handling street takeovers.

And, a task force is investigating.

Meantime, City Council is moving toward increasing the penalties for street takeovers, and the new video gives you one more look at the chaos and the crowds with no fear of the law.

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