Crime
Cincinnati Police Chief Condemns Brutal Downtown Brawl Captured in Viral Video
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Cincinnati Police Chief Theresa Theetge issued a strong statement Saturday evening, expressing her outrage and condemnation following the emergence of a disturbing video showing a violent street brawl in downtown Cincinnati.
The video, nearly two and a half minutes in length and widely circulated on Facebook, depicts dozens of individuals engaged in a chaotic and brutal fight.
The footage shows one man being chased into the street, where he is violently kicked and stomped by multiple people.
Though some bystanders eventually help him to his feet, he collapses again shortly after.
He is later seen with a bloodied nose and visible injuries on his face.
Later in the video, another act of violence unfolds when a woman punches another woman in the back of the head.
As the victim backs away, a man delivers a direct punch to her face, knocking her to the ground and appearing to render her unconscious.
Blood is seen pouring from her mouth as several individuals rush to assist her. The video ends as the woman regains consciousness.
Chief Theetge did not mince words in her response.
โI am in complete disgust waking up to the viral video many of you have now seen. The behavior displayed is nothing short of cruel and absolutely unacceptable,โ Theetge said in her statement. โOur investigative team is working diligently to identify every individual involved in causing harm.โ
She also clarified that the violent incident was the result of a sudden dispute among individuals following a verbal altercation and was not connected in any way to the Cincinnati Music Festival, which is taking place downtown over the weekend.
A Cincinnati Police Department spokesperson noted that authorities were not made aware of the incident until the video surfaced online.
Chief Theetge is urging anyone with information related to the altercation to contact Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.
Crime
Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis shot in the leg by an immigration agent in Minneapolis
On January 14, 2025, federal law enforcement personnel were engaged in a targeted enforcement operation involving Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national who has been present in the United States since 2022.
The operation escalated into a high-speed pursuit, a physical confrontation, and an ambush by multiple subjects, necessitating the use of a defensive firearm discharge by a federal agent.
At approximately 6:50 PM, federal officers initiated a targeted traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Sosa-Celis.
The subject refused to comply with law enforcement commands and attempted to flee the scene.
During the pursuit, the subjectโs vehicle collided with a stationary, parked car.
Following the collision, the subject abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
A federal agent pursued the suspect on foot and successfully intercepted him. As the agent attempted to effect an arrest, the subject became combative, resulting in a violent struggle on the ground.
During this confrontation, two additional male subjects emerged from a nearby residence to intervene.
These individuals reportedly ambushed the agent, utilizing a snow shovel and a broom handle to strike the officer.
The situation escalated when the primary suspect, Sosa-Celis, regained his footing and joined the two additional subjects in the assault.
Reports indicate the suspect struck the agent with a blunt object (identified as either the shovel or broom handle).
Citing an immediate threat to his life while being outnumbered and actively assaulted by three individuals, the agent discharged his service weapon in self-defense.
The discharge struck Sosa-Celis in the lower extremity (leg). Following the shot, all three suspects retreated into a nearby apartment complex and initiated a barricade situation.
Following a brief standoff, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) successfully secured the perimeter and apprehended all three individuals without further injury.
Both the federal agent and Sosa-Celis were transported to a local medical facility for treatment.
Images from the scene showed Sosa-Celis conscious and alert during transport.
All three subjects involved in the assault are currently in the custody of ICE.
Further charges related to the assault on a federal officer and resisting arrest are pending review by the U.S. Attorneyโs Office.