Police announce arrest in September street takeover

CLEVELAND (WJW) — Cleveland police held a press conference Tuesday afternoon with Chief Dorothy Todd in which she announced an arrest in connection to a series of violent street takeovers that happened at the end of September.

The 25-year-old man, whose identity was not revealed Tuesday, was arrested outside the city on Tuesday by members of a special city task force investigating the recent series of street takeovers, as well as SWAT officers, said Todd.

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Video obtained by FOX 8 shows on the night of Sept. 29, masked men blocked the Innerbelt Bridge for cars to perform stunts in the middle of the road. The same thing happened in Ohio City, University Circle and near Lee and Miles.

The suspect’s arrest warrants included charges of aggravated rioting, disrupting public service, failure to comply with police orders, tampering with evidence and possessing criminal tools, Todd said. He’s now in the Cuyahoga County jail, awaiting further charges, Todd said.

Police on Tuesday towed a vehicle believed to have been involved in the takeover and seen on video circling a police cruiser. Investigators are still trying to determine whether the suspect was the driver.

People were recorded jumping on police cars, setting fires, lighting fireworks, and the University Circle police chief said someone fired a BB gun at one of his officers. An off-duty police officer was also beaten up.

Two people were also shot and injured that night near East 65th and Broadway, police said, adding the shootings were connected to the street takeovers.

Two people have already been arrested in connection to fires set during the takeovers. A 17-year-old from Norton is also facing charges in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court.

Todd said police are always monitoring “open sources” like social media for evidence of a planned street takeover, but by the time they learned about the late September takeover, they didn’t have time to “properly prepare.”

Video and photos of the takeovers released to the public have generated “hundreds” of tips that police continue to pursue, said Todd.

“The community is angry,” she said. “We’ve have very active tips from the community because they don’t want this in their neighborhoods.”

Police are looking not only at those suspected of major crimes but also at those who stood by and watched or played smaller roles.

“The investigation is not over,” Todd said. “We have a lot of people who are identified. … If you participated, you may get a knock on your door at some point.”

Anyone with information on street takeovers is urged to call the dedicated tip line at 216-623-5474 or email police @clevelandohio.gov .

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