Cleveland Police Warn of Dangers as Overnight Street Takeovers Continue
Cleveland police faced significant challenges early Sunday morning as they dealt with multiple wild street takeovers, prompting a press conference later that day to address the situation.
According to the Fox 8 I-Team, crowds of cars performing stunts and blocking traffic occupied several locations throughout the overnight hours, including:
- W. 25th and Lorain Ave.
- Roses Plaza, 3250 W. 65th
- E. 105th and Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
- E. 93rd and Opportunity Corridor
- E. 55th and Woodland Ave.
- Westbound I-90 near W. 14th
This issue has been ongoing throughout the summer, beginning months ago when a crowd of cars took over Playhouse Square, driving in circles beneath the chandelier.
During the Sunday press conference, Chief of Police Dorothy Todd revealed that the groups involved in the street takeovers consist of both local residents and individuals from other cities, including Cincinnati. Police were tipped off late Saturday evening by an Instagram post about the potential takeover and began preparations to monitor the situation.
Officers were dispatched to various locations in an attempt to curb the activity, which included cars spinning in intersections. During these encounters, at least one officer was struck by someone firing an airsoft gun, and citizens reported being threatened with firearms. Fireworks were also set off during the chaos.
Fortunately, there were no serious injuries or significant property damage reported. Sgt. Wilfredo Diaz, the public information officer for the Cleveland Division of Police, stated that arrests were made at several locations, but authorities are still working to determine the connections among those arrested.
Chief Todd emphasized the seriousness of these events, stating, “This is more than a traffic issue. These are felony crimes.” She noted that the groups involved are using locked social media accounts to coordinate their activities and share information about law enforcement locations. Many participants have been wearing masks and utilizing fake license plates, complicating identification efforts.
“If this continues, someone will get hurt,” Todd warned, announcing the formation of a task force to investigate these incidents with the aid of state and federal resources. “We are committed to making arrests for the incidents that occurred last night. Anyone thinking of coming here for this type of activity should know it is unacceptable in Cleveland or anywhere else. It’s dangerous, and it will not be tolerated.”
Council President Blaine Griffin also condemned the street takeovers, stating, “This is unacceptable. People are living in fear. We need more police and better intelligence to track these down. This has to stop. My residents are irate.”
Todd indicated that this trend of large street takeovers is not unique to Cleveland, as similar incidents have been reported in other cities, including Indianapolis, Philadelphia, and Columbus.
