CLEVELAND — A Cuyahoga County grand jury has indicted 25-year-old Jordan Cortez McDonald of South Euclid for his role in the "street takeovers" that took place in several parts of Cleveland during the night of Sept. 28 and the morning of Sept. 29.
Court records show McDonald was indicted on 23 counts:
- 7 counts of aggravated riot
- 6 counts of riot
- 3 counts of failure to comply with the order/signal of police officer
- 3 counts of disrupting public service
- 2 counts of obstructing official business
- 1 count of possessing criminal tools
- 1 count of tampering with evidence
During an arraignment hearing on Oct. 28, McDonald pleaded not guilty and a bond of $25,000 was set.
McDonald's first pre-trial will be on Nov. 8 at 9 a.m.
“These street takeovers are unacceptable, and my office will continue to vigorously prosecute all participants whose cases are referred to us,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley in a statement. “We anticipate more indictments coming.”
CASE BACKGROUND
On Sept. 28-29, the city of Cleveland endured a night of "street takeovers" that impacted multiple locations as suspects stopped traffic, pointed guns at people, lit fireworks and attempted to start fires.
According to Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd, officials received an email from Cincinnati on Sept. 28 that revealed social media posts from groups coordinating the takeovers. She said the posts contained charged language including, "we will not run from a cop. If you can't stand your ground, this isn't your meetup."
Todd says the first report of activity came from East 55th and Woodland at around 11:30 p.m., and then more and more street takeovers started popping up, dividing police resources. The final takeover area was reported on I-90 west at West 14th around 4 a.m. on Sept. 29.
In response to the street takeovers, the Cleveland Division of Police created a "Street Takeover Task Force."
On Oct. 15, police arrested McDonald specifically for his role in the street takeover of Lee and Miles on Sept. 29.
McDonald was charged with the following:
- Failure to comply
- Tampering with evidence
- Aggravated riot
- Disruption public services
- Possession of criminal tools
In addition to the arrest, police impounded a vehicle suspected to be the one seen in videos circling around a patrol car during the takeover.
According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, further investigation by the CDP revealed McDonald’s gray 2023 Dodge Charger was observed performing burnouts and donuts in seven separate street takeover incidents on Sept. 28-29.
Investigators laid out a timeline for McDonald's criminal activity between 11:10 p.m. on Sept. 28 and 4 a.m.:
11:10 p.m. -- "Jordan McDonald attended and participated in an illegal street takeover near East 55th Street and Woodland Avenue. Several vehicles engaged in blocking intersections and participating in burnouts and donuts in the middle of the intersections. The Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority Police (CMHA) and the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) responded to the scene."
11:36 p.m. -- "McDonald attended and participated in an illegal street takeover near Lee Road and Miles Avenue in Cleveland. Several vehicles engaged in blocking intersections and participating in burnouts and donuts in the middle of the intersections. CDP responded to the scene. Multiple people jumped on top of a City of Cleveland vehicle and on the hoods of CDP vehicles – banging on the windows with closed fists."
11:58 p.m. -- "McDonald attended and participated in an illegal street takeover near East 105th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Cleveland. Several vehicles engaged in blocking intersections, participating in burnouts and donuts in the middle of the intersections, and slowed down an ambulance from passing through the intersection. University Circle Police and CDP responded to the scene. While CDP assisted the ambulance from passing through the intersection, one of the participants shot an officer with an airsoft gun twice."
12:46 a.m. -- "McDonald attended and participated in an illegal street takeover near East 93rd Street and Opportunity Corridor in Cleveland. Several vehicles engaged in blocking intersections, participating in burnouts and donuts in the middle of the intersections, and slowed down an ambulance from proceeding to the hospital."
1:17 a.m. -- "McDonald attended and participated in an illegal street takeover near West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue in Cleveland. Several vehicles engaged in drag racing, blocking intersections, participating in burnouts and donuts in the middle of the intersections, setting off fireworks, and stopped an RTA bus from proceeding through. There were approximately 80-100 vehicles purposely parked to block all four sides of the intersection. CDP responded to the scene."
3 a.m. -- "McDonald attended and participated in an illegal street takeover at the Broadway Shopping Plaza on Broadway Avenue in Cleveland. Several vehicles engaged in performing donuts. Several shots were then fired – striking three males. CDP responded to the scene."
4 a.m. -- "McDonald attended and participated in an illegal street takeover on I-90 near West 14th Street in Cleveland. Several vehicles participated in performing donuts, blocking the interstate with construction cones, approaching people wearing masks and brandishing firearms, setting off fireworks, and pouring gasoline on the highway – lighting it on fire. CDP responded to the scene. When officers arrived, several people then jumped on top of the CDP vehicles. A fire engine was also blocked and unable to proceed through during the street takeover."
"Afterward, McDonald threw away his gray Dodge Charger’s license plate, made physical alterations to his vehicle, and took down his social media accounts," prosecutors note.
OTHER ARRESTS IN THE CASE
Earlier this week, the Street Takeover Task Force arrested a 23-year-old Port Clinton woman who is believed to have been "an active promoter and participant" during the street takeovers.
The woman, whose name has not yet been revealed, was arrested on charges of aggravated riot and possession of criminal tools. A search warrant was conducted at her residence, where a 2020 Infinity Q50 was confiscated in addition to two firearms, a rifle, and "other items." The suspect was taken to the Cuyahoga County Jail.
Also on Thursday, the Cleveland Division of Police announced the arrest of a third suspect from the Sept. 28-29 street takeovers. A 20-year-old man was taken into custody and charged with several crimes, including aggravated riot and tampering with evidence.