CINCINNATI — Cincinnati police officers arrested 12 kids in a downtown parking garage on Friday, some of whom were suspects in attacks made on people on 5th and 6th Streets downtown, according to Chief Teresa Theetge.
Theetge said Tuesday that CPD stepped up patrols downtown and was able to catch the juveniles as a result.
Two of the juveniles are accused of being involved in an attack on January 23, when a man was attacked and robbed on 6th Street by a group of eight people. Two of those people had already been arrested.
Another two of the juveniles arrested Friday were involved in a second attack that happened the next day, when a 15-year-old was jumped and beaten just one block away, on 5th Street.
Theetge said six of the 12 kids arrested were also involved in a disorderly conduct case that happened on January 29 at Carew Tower. One of the juveniles had an ankle monitoring bracelet on when they were arrested Friday, Theetge said.
While it wasn't at the same time police arrested the 12 juveniles, Theetge said four people were also caught breaking into vehicles on Race Street on Friday; two teenagers were arrested for that as well.
Theetge said when police arrested those teens, both were armed with semi-automatic guns.
As she provided an update on youth violence to Cincinnati City Council on Tuesday, Theetge said Cincinnati police are working to get things under control, but that officers are feeling frustrated.
"This is not the police's problem to solve alone," Theetge said. "It absolutely is not. If that's the approach we continue to take, my fear is a critical outcome that none of us want to see in this city, if everybody doesn't come to the table and commit to being part of the solution."
Theetge also stressed to city council that, despite the recent incidents downtown, the area is safe; she told council she took her own family downtown over the weekend.
Still, she said it isn't a bad thing that people are more aware after the attacks were reported.
"What we need to solve those problems, is all of those entities I mentioned, to be at the table discussing what is their part, what can they do to move the needle on this," said Theetge. "I'm talking about CPS, juvenile court, prosecutor's office, I'm willing to have an open dialogue with any and all of them to solve this problem."
Before Theetge's presentation to council, a mother named Tracey, whom we introduced you to last week, spoke during the public comment section. She described May 17, 2023, which is a day her son was assaulted in Washington Park, in a similar style to the ones that happened in January downtown.
"The one assailant that we have arrested, or have charged has never had to attend court, not one time," Tracey said. "It's a Zoom meeting with his mother on Zoom ... make it uncomfortable for them, it's uncomfortable for me every time I have to go down and take a day off of work."
Council member Scotty Johnson addressed what he referred to as "the elephant in the room about personal accountability."
"If this is not reinforced at home, then we continuously start this over every day," Johnson said.
He spent 33 years as a Cincinnati police officer and talked about how he realizes there are groups of under-served people who feel disrespected and are the victims of discrimination.
"America has never lived up to what it was allegedly supposed to be," said Johnson. "As a result of that, there are groups that are trying to play catch-up. There is something that should've never been lost in this American society, and it's called respect ... it's called just having some consideration for your fellow man."
