CLEVELAND — Violence in Cleveland has seemingly reached a breaking point, and city officials are getting ready to turn their plans to curb that violence into action.
Last Thursday, Cleveland resident Jeremey Seeden parked his car outside of his apartment complex and within a matter of minutes, thieves gained entry to his car and took off with it. Seeden told 3News, "I was just parked at my home so it just makes me feel like, am i safe in home? am I safe in Cleveland?"
A 13 year old boy was shot and killed. Police say another child pulled the trigger. Overnight two more shootings also involving teens.
This ongoing crime in the city, including the shootings at West 6th, has the attention of Cuyahoga County's new sheriff Harold Pretel, "That is an unprecedented event that have been happening downtown its not a single incident its been a series of events that have been occurring."
On the job in less than two weeks and Pretel already has a safety plan in the works. He calls it the "downtown safety patrol."
The team will work in the upcoming weeks, Wednesday through Saturday, when downtown Cleveland is heaviest with visitors. Eight deputies and a sergeant with canines will patrol Playhouse Square, Public Square, the Flats and additional areas. The deputies will work with Cleveland police and Ohio State Highway Patrol, who last week said they will be assisting Sgt. Bridgett Matt told 3News troopers would be assisting CPD in "crime control interdiction", focusing on violent crime hotspot areas.
"We have a very good track record and we know where things have been happening and we know what needs to be done there," said Pretel.
This is all good news for Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin. The city is now at 112 homicides and this trend has to stop
"Because right now we need all hands on deck in order to be able to have all of Cleveland approach to help with this violent crime," Griffin stated.