CLEVELAND — A wild video surfaced over Memorial Day weekend of the iconic chandelier at Playhouse Square in Cleveland with a ring of flames below it, and a screeching vehicle doing doughnuts around it.
"The Cleveland Division of Police is aware of videos circulating on social media showing vehicles disobeying traffic laws and engaging in erratic driving," Sergeant Wilfredo Diaz said Monday afternoon. "These incidents are extremely dangerous and can have serious consequences for those involved and nearby. We strongly encourage anyone who witnesses such behavior to report it to us immediately. No arrests have been made in relation to the recent incident, however public safety is our top priority, and we are committed to keeping our community safe."
The Cleveland Division of Police spoke briefly regarding the incident on Tuesday afternoon during a virtual press conference.
According to Diaz, the investigation is in the early stages, and no arrests have been made. Cleveland police are asking anyone with information on the incident to contact them.
“Our message is that this is something that we all have to be accountable for… It is very irresponsible and there are some potentially devastating consequences…," said Diaz. "We as a community, in partnership with law enforcement, need to put a stop to this."
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb also released the following statement to 3News:
“This level of lawlessness can have tragic consequences and is unacceptable. Our Division of Police cannot act on information we don’t have, so we need community members to come forward – and remember that tips can be reported anonymously. Residents and local businesses can also help by registering their cameras with our SAFE SMART CLE camera-sharing program One camera could help solve a case and save a life.”
Also this holiday weekend, investigators responded to an altercation-turned-shooting on St. Clair Ave. in the early hours of Sunday morning that left one dead and three others injured. 3News asked Sgt. Diaz for an update on this case this afternoon.
"Not much of an update," he responded. "The preliminary information is a group of individuals were gathered outside of 1466 Saint Clair Ave., when an altercation ensued. During the altercation, shots were fired, causing the injuries to the four victims. We continue to investigate the cause of the shooting."
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office identified the person who died in the shooting as Tavon Thompson.
This weekend violence comes mere days after Cleveland Mayor Bibb and city officials announced "Operation Heat Wave" on May 21. "What's unique about this year's summer safety plan is we recognize that every department across the city of Cleveland has a role to play in reducing violent crime," he said of the operation.
Here was his message after the quadruple shooting, emphasizing the summer safety plan going forward.
"I am both saddened and angered by this thoughtless and cowardly act of violence. It has claimed one life and deeply impacted many others. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. It is time to break the cycle of violence and find better ways to resolve conflicts.
"Clevelanders deserve to feel safe in our city. My administration will continue to collaborate with law enforcement, local partners, faith leaders and community members to reduce the number of guns on our streets, target hot spots for violent crime and focus resources where they are needed the most. The Cleveland Division of Police is investigating this incident and I encourage anyone with information to come forward."
Community activists like Myesha Watkins, executive director of the Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance, support the mayor.
"I'm glad that Mayor Bibb and administration have created a plan that's built on partnership and collaboration on how we can, from a city level, address community violence, including gun violence," Watkins said.
Her organization already has plans in place to tackle gun violence this summer, including a car wash fundraiser to collect funds for juveniles who need support moving through the court system, a peace walk to raise awareness about the impacts of and solutions for gun violence, and a gun handling education class that teaches safe, proper gun maintenance.
"It's up to us as a community to figure out how do we empower these communities, what resources are needed, what programs are needed, and how do we not just plan for one season, but all year round to ensure that not one life lost in either Ward 5 or Ward 1 or downtown," Watkins told WKYC on Monday. "We can't afford for anybody to lose their life anywhere in the greater city of Cleveland."
Cleveland police ask that anyone with information on the quadruple shooting or the stunt driving at Playhouse Square give them a call at (216) 623-5464.