Four people have been arrested and two suspects remain at large following a violent brawl in downtown Cincinnati that gained widespread attention after video footage of the attack circulated online. The footage shows a group assaulting a man and woman, leaving the woman unconscious near Elm and Fourth Streets.
Dominique Kittle, 37, is the latest person to be charged with aggravated riot and felonious assault. His bond was set at $150,000 during a Saturday, Aug. 2, morning court appearance. Kittle’s attorney said Kittle suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. Police also arrested Jermaine Matthews, 39; Montianez Merriweather, 34 and Dekyra Vernon, 24.
During a Friday, Aug.1, press conference Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge shared frustrations with reporters.
“That is unacceptable to not call the police. Traffic was horrendous. People saw this. They were fighting in front of traffic. Why didn’t people call us?” Theetge asked, noting that out of about 100 witnesses or participants, only one person contacted law enforcement.
Mayor Aftab Pureval reinforced the city’s commitment to safety.
“Let me be clear, there is no place for violent crime in Cincinnati, whether it’s fight or gun violence, we will pursue those responsible and we will hold them accountable no matter who they are, period,” Pureval said. The mayor also condemned attempts to racially frame the incident, calling such efforts “cynical.”
However, some critics said the city’s response was insufficient. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, told Fox News.
“No apology, no atonement… The police are doing the best they can in Cincinnati. They’re the heroes every day. But nice words don’t mean anything unless you have actual actions. This is way too little response,” he said. He also criticized the mayor’s absence at the time of the incident.
Theetge described the brawl as “an act of violence that shook us all,” promising that “all those involved in the attack would be held accountable.”
Despite the arrests, some city officials and residents said more needs to be done to address ongoing safety concerns in downtown Cincinnati.
