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Fox News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Cincinnati police union blasts 'political games' as leaders call for prosecution of White man in viral assault
The Cincinnati police union is firing back as local leaders are calling for the prosecution of several White individuals involved in the viral downtown assault that led to six people being injured in late-July. The city's Fraternal Order of Police released a statement defending the department's investigation of the violent beatdown, while condemning city leaders' demands that additional arrests be made. "Cincinnati Police investigators have worked tirelessly to gather all of the facts, meet with prosecutors and sign appropriate charges to ensure those involved will be brought to justice," Ken Kober, president of Queen City Lodge #69, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Efforts have been made by politicians to influence the outcome of the investigation for their own gain. It's wildly inappropriate. There's no place for political games in law enforcement." The union previously noted the White individuals involved in the fight have been identified as "victims," according to WKRC 12. The development comes after Ohio state Rep. Cecil Thomas spoke out at a public discussion Monday to discuss concerns over the city's handling of the investigation into the fight, WLWT reported. "The video speaks for itself," Thomas said, according to the outlet. "The method by which this situation has been handled raises serious questions as to whether there is bias involved in this investigation. It also brings into question the lack of integrity and whether there is something else to hide." The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office declined Fox News Digital's request for comment. The comments are in response to a July 26 beatdown on the corner of Fourth and Elm streets that quickly went viral, sparking national outrage and putting pressure on Cincinnati's leadership to address safety concerns. Additional footage of the assault obtained by WLWT shows the unidentified White man allegedly hitting a Black man in the face, leading to several others joining in on the beatdown that ultimately led to seven arrests. A separate video obtained by Fox News Digital revealed another angle of the moments before the fight, in which a White man can be heard repeatedly using a racial slur toward the group before the physical altercation began. The viral incident has sparked racial tensions within the city as all seven arrested individuals are African American. Last week, a grand jury indicted Patrick Rosemond, 38, Jermaine Matthews, 39, Montianez Merriweather, 34, DeKyra Vernon, 24, Dominique Kittle, 37, and Aisha Devaughn, 25, on three counts of alleged felonious assault, three charges of assault and two charges of aggravated rioting, the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office confirmed to Fox News Digital. If convicted, they would each face the possibility of up to 29 years in prison. A seventh individual, 32-year-old Gregory Wright, was arrested Monday afternoon and is facing charges of alleged aggravated riot and aggravated robbery, according to the Hamilton County Jail. "It's a powder keg, it's a powder keg," Carl Lewis, the attorney for Wright, said during his client's arraignment on Monday, according to WKRC 12. Lewis reportedly was referring to the high-tension situation unfolding in the community following the beatdown. "If, in fact, you start out with the narrative that they're 'victims' just based upon what you've seen in a video, that's a problem," Lewis said. Lewis did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. WATCH: Viral Cincinnati attack victim speaks out amid recovery from violent beating The potentially explosive situation forced Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Tyrone Yates to request additional security during Wright's arraignment, WKRC 12 reported. "Can we send a couple of deputies to the outside to make sure that while I conduct this hearing, everyone understands that everyone is to be cool, to keep their cool," Yates said. Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney also reportedly weighed in on the criticism. "The actions of the White people involved appear to be the proximate cause of the violence, and they should be charged," Kearney said, according to WKRC 12. "We should push for justice and not turn against each other." Kearney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Yahoo
Suspects identified in viral fight videos in downtown Cincinnati, police union president says
Police have identified several suspects believed to be involved in a fight in downtown Cincinnati that is circulating in viral social media videos. Four or five suspects have been identified and police are continuing to field tips that could lead to arrests and more suspects being identified, said Ken Kober, the Cincinnati police union president. Cincinnati police had not announced any arrests by the morning of July 28. A department spokesperson did not immediately respond to a phone call from The Enquirer asking about arrests and the police response to the incident. A post by the Signal 99 Facebook page claims the fight took place at the corner of Fourth and Elm streets during the evening of Friday, July 25. In another video posted on Facebook by Marvin C. Bennett, the LoVe on Fourth nightclub can be seen in the background. However, Cincinnati police said the incident happened July 26 near the intersection of Fourth and Elm streets. Kober said that police responded to the scene, but that he didn't have any more information to share on the response. Signal 99, a Facebook page which calls itself "a Spicy meme page for Cops, Firefighters, Medics and Dispatchers," shared the video the morning of July 26. It went on to gain traction on multiple platforms, including on Mayoral candidate and JD Vance's half-brother Cory Bowman's Facebook page, and additional angles of the incident have also been shared. Elon Musk and Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, also weighed in. Seen in one of the videos is a group of people striking one man until he falls to the ground as they continue to punch and kick him. Shortly after, another man is seen punching a woman in the face, causing her to fall to the ground, where she remained motionless until a person helped pick her back up. "That was nothing more than a savage attack," Kober said. "There's no place in society for what we saw." Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge previously said the fight stemmed from "a sudden dispute between individuals following a verbal altercation." City officials have made a recent push to reduce crime in the city's urban core. "I am in complete disgust waking up to the viral video many of you have now seen," Theetge said in a statement on July 26. "The behavior displayed is nothing short of cruel and absolutely unacceptable ... Our investigative team is working diligently to identify every individual involved in causing harm." The incident remains under investigation and Theetge is asking anyone with information about the incident to call CrimeStoppers at 513-352-3040. Enquirer reporters Cameron Knight, David Ferrara and Aaron Valdez contributed. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati fight: Suspects identified as police continue investigation Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
28-07-2025
- Fox News
'Soft on crime' judges enabled violent brawl in Cincinnati, police union president says
WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT - Cincinnati FOP President Ken Kober explains why people in a viral brawl 'fear no consequences' on 'The Will Cain Show.'
