CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Police District 3 officers made three arrests Tuesday -- with two more arrests pending -- in connection to a string of robberies and assaults they believe to be targeted at Hispanic people in East Price Hill.
District 3 Capt. Paul Broxterman said in a Thursday briefing the suspects, some as young as 12, assaulted and robbed Hispanic people in eight different instances for no apparent reason. He said as many as 10 juveniles would be involved in a strong-arm robbery at one time.
According to CPD, the robberies and assaults started in May and included suspects ranging in ages between 12 and 18.
According to a release from District 4, police arrested two 13-year-old boys on Tuesday in connection to two separate offenses that took place at a gas station on Warsaw Avenue. The arrest report describes the suspects throwing a milk crate at an employee after demanding money and punching another employee in the back.
Broxterman said one of the boys arrested Tuesday admitted to three different robberies and one assault. He said there seems to be no motive behind the attacks.
“I think it's more of these individuals just doing it for sport," Broxterman said. "They're getting very little property out of it. They seem to just take enjoyment in what they’re doing."
There are currently two pending arrests in the case of a July 5 robbery and assault at a restaurant on Warsaw Avenue. An employee at Valle Verde Mexican Grill reported being punched in the back of the head by three young males who then stole bottles of Coke and left.
Broxterman said there are more juveniles to identify.
During the press briefing, Broxterman said crimes against Hispanic people are under-reported, sometimes due to a language barrier. He encouraged anyone who believes they have been a victim of a crime to reach out to police.
