CLEVELAND — After a weekend filled with chaotic "street takeovers," Cleveland City Council has announced that it will hold a hearing to seek answers on the situation.
The hearing will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m. during the scheduled Cleveland City Council Safety Committee meeting.
Wednesday's hearing comes after chaotic scenes began just after 11 p.m. on Saturday. In one of the most serious incidents, vehicles took over I-90 westbound and "shut the freeway down," stopping traffic.
Cleveland police said the suspects allegedly shot off fireworks on the freeway and attempted to light fires, only to be thwarted by the slick roadway due to the recent rain.
Cleveland City Council says it is holding this hearing because they "recognize the growing concerns of our residents and businesses alike and want to ensure transparency as we move forward on this issue."
Other takeovers occurred over the weekend on West 25th Street and Lorain Avenue, West 65th Street, East 93rd Street and Opportunity Corridor, Steelyard Commons, East 105th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and East 55th Street and Woodland Avenue.
"We cannot allow our city to be disrupted by urban terrorists, who, in many cases, have come in from as far away as Cincinnati and Michigan," said Cleveland City Council Safety Chair Mike Polensek. "It is crucial that we learn from this incident and ask the Administration what measures will be put in place to ensure the safety of our residents, businesses, and visitors alike. It is one thing for the mayor to say, finally, that he is 'sick and tired of what took place over this weekend,' and another thing to do something about it."
During the hearing, Cleveland City Council will seek to answer the following questions and more:
- Were any arrests made during the event?
- If the Cleveland Division of Police had prior information or intelligence about the takeover, what actions were taken to prevent it?
- Was there any property or vehicle damage reported as a result of the takeover?
- How many officers responded to the various locations where the takeovers were taking place?
- What steps are being implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future?
- Did the Division of Police contact any other agencies, such as the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Cuyahoga County Sheriff, or adjacent suburbs, for assistance?
"The safety of our citizens is our top priority, and the City Administration must take proactive measures to ensure events like this do not disrupt our community. We need to ask critical questions and demand answers," said Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin.
In addition, Cleveland City Council is asking the community to "remain vigilant and engaged as we work collaboratively with law enforcement and community leaders to address these pressing concerns."