New Footage Reveals Chaos and Violence from Cleveland Street Takeovers
The FOX 8 I-Team has uncovered new video and significant fallout from the recent wild and violent street takeovers in Cleveland. Last weekend, dozens of cars and large crowds disrupted traffic on the Innerbelt Bridge and throughout the city.
On Wednesday, the I-Team reported a shooting investigation linked to these takeovers. During a council hearing that day, Cleveland City Council members demanded explanations from the police chief regarding the prolonged duration of these takeovers, which lasted for hours.
Saturday night into Sunday, large crowds gathered to block streets and watch drivers perform stunts in the middle of the road. Many spectators recorded the chaos with their cell phone cameras, while others brandished firearms. Newly obtained footage shows an angry Ohio City resident capturing the loud cars performing stunts, alongside fireworks being shot off in the crowd.
Recently released 911 calls reveal the desperation of drivers waiting for police intervention. One caller expressed frustration, saying, “I don’t know how you guys are not here yet. They have guns and everything.” The dispatcher responded, “Because we have to drive there, sir. We’ve been chasing these people for the last three hours.” Another caller, agitated, stated, “I’m about to run about 300 people over on the 71 on-ramp. I got a big, diesel-powered truck, and I’m going into 4-wheel drive.”
Cleveland Council Public Safety Chairman Michael Polensek expressed the community’s demand for law enforcement action. Council members are questioning how many individuals will face charges for their involvement in the takeovers and why it took so long for police to regain control of the streets. Another caller echoed the concern, saying, “I called 20 minutes ago. I haven’t seen a police car at all.” In response, Police Chief Dorothy Todd stated, “We had to make sure that we had a safe plan to get the officers up there and to get the citizens from that area.”
Reports of violence during the events have continued to emerge. Earlier, the I-Team revealed that a crowd swarmed and jumped on a police car with an officer inside. Additionally, an off-duty Parma officer was assaulted by five individuals.
A shooting investigation has also surfaced, believed to be connected to the street takeovers. Gunfire erupted early Sunday morning near East 65th and Broadway, resulting in one victim transported to the hospital by ambulance, unable to communicate with officers, while another was taken by friends with a gunshot wound to the right heel. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots, with some vehicles found with bullet holes.
Questions were raised about whether police had prior warning about the street takeovers. Chief Todd indicated that police received an email late Saturday alerting them to a group traveling from Cincinnati. The I-Team obtained an email sent shortly after noon that included a social media post and was forwarded to the Northeast Ohio Regional Fusion Center, which gathers police intelligence.
“We’ve identified many persons of interest and need to consider this case as a broader issue,” the chief said during the hearing. She emphasized that detectives are aiming to build a comprehensive case encompassing all the takeovers rather than focusing solely on individual incidents.
Despite the large crowds, very few arrests were made during the disturbances. Chief Todd noted, “I know there were some juveniles arrested in a stolen vehicle in one district. In another district, a man was found with the plates from his car in the trunk.”
As for preventing future street takeovers, police are exploring strategies employed in other cities, such as deploying spike strips to deflate tires.
The 911 calls reflect the fear experienced by many during the events, with one man telling dispatch, “Got a gun pulled on me. He said if I moved, he’d shoot me.” The growing calls for action from both the public and council members signal a collective demand for measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
While police initially downplayed the seriousness of the events, stating there were no major incidents, the mayor claimed the city had handled the situation “fantastically.” However, following the hearing, a council leader remarked that the reality of the situation was much more serious than previously communicated.
