Cleveland Street Takeover: Off-Duty Officer Beaten in Violent Incident
I-Team has revealed more incidents of violence during street takeovers in Cleveland last weekend, including the brutal beating of an off-duty police officer.
The chaos unfolded as large crowds took control of city streets for hours, despite warnings from law enforcement. Among the reported incidents was an assault on an off-duty Parma officer who, after exiting his vehicle, asked a group to move so he could go home. According to police, five men then attacked him, with multiple sources indicating that they pistol-whipped the officer. Following the assault, the attackers told the officer to leave, but when he reminded them that he was trying to do just that, he was struck again.
These street takeovers involved dozens of cars performing stunts in the middle of the roadways, occurring on the east side, west side, and the Innerbelt Bridge. Police footage captured a Cleveland ambulance with lights and sirens blocked by vehicles as drivers continued their dangerous stunts.
Witnesses reported alarming behavior in the crowds, including individuals flashing guns and firing shots. One caller recounted a terrifying moment when someone pointed a gun at his face. Additionally, a party bus driver and his passengers were reportedly terrorized by masked individuals wielding guns.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb praised the police for their handling of the situation but acknowledged that they were severely understaffed, as police radio recordings indicated. An email obtained by the I-Team revealed that police were warned about the potential for street takeovers hours before they occurred. The crowds also targeted officers, injuring two with BB or pellet guns and damaging a police car. In one instance, a large group swarmed an officer in his vehicle, jumping on it.
Many 911 callers reported delays in police response, prompting the mayor to acknowledge, “We can always do better.”
Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin echoed this sentiment, stating, “We’ve got to do better,” and promising to take action. He emphasized the importance of restoring public confidence while addressing the need for accountability in handling these situations.
Mayor Bibb noted that the city has initiated a task force aimed at finding solutions to prevent future street takeovers. However, despite the ongoing issues since spring, police have not yet released images or videos of suspects or their vehicles, nor have they provided updates on arrests or citations related to the weekend’s events.
The Cleveland City Council Public Safety Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on Wednesday morning to discuss these troubling incidents.
