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CINCINNATI – WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
An audio recording of the sole 911 call after a violent beatdown involving at least 100 witnesses in downtown Cincinnati early last Saturday morning has been obtained by news sources.
A man called authorities around 3 a.m. on July 26, sounding dazed. The call lasted three minutes and 15 seconds, with the 911 operator asking various questions, including the number of people involved in the fight. The call was made after the brutal beatdown had ended, as indicated by the caller.
“At this point, everybody’s running out, so it was before, about 20, 30 people, but everybody’s out,” the caller said.
A woman was punched on Friday night in Cincinnati. (X/@Anthea06274890)
At the one-minute and 30-second mark of the call, the operator asked whether police needed to respond, given that the fight was over.
“Some people are leaving, some people are still here,” the caller said, repeating this throughout the call.
The 911 operator inquired multiple times about the number of people involved in the fight and whether police assistance was required.
Cincinnati Chief of Police Teresa Theetge announces the arrests of two people allegedly involved in a fight that gained national attention over the weekend. (Fox News Digital)
“I would prefer, yes,” the man said. “I would prefer, yes. Absolutely.”
The operator assured the man that an officer would be dispatched “as soon as possible” and advised him not to leave the scene.
Out of the approximately 100 people present at the scene, the man was the only one to call 911, according to Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge.
A photo showing the bruised face of a victim of the viral beating in Cincinnati, identified only as Holly. (Tricia Mackie / Fox 19 on X)
“That is unacceptable to not call the police,” she stated in a news conference earlier this week. “Traffic was horrendous. People saw this. They were fighting in front of traffic. Why didn’t people call us?”
The city has faced criticism this week over its handling of the brawl, which generated significant online attention.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval responded publicly late Monday, following the circulation of the beating video for about 36 hours. He had been on vacation in Canada all week and finally announced plans to cut his vacation short and return to the city on Thursday. City councilwoman Victoria Parks, stated on Facebook that the victims of the attack “begged for that beat down!”
A photo of Cincinnati City Councilwoman Victoria Parks speaking at an event. (Facebook via Victoria Parks)
In the video, a mob can be seen punching and stomping on two victims on the corner of Fourth and Elm Street. One of the victims, a woman identified only as Holly, was knocked out cold.
Montianez Merriweather, 34, and Dekyra Vernon, 24, were arrested Tuesday night. Both face felonious assault, aggravated riot, and assault charges. Merriweather is being held on a $500,000 bond, while Vernon is being held on a $200,000 bond.
A third suspect, Jermaine Matthews, was taken into custody overnight and charged with aggravated riot and assault. He is being held on a $100,000 bond.
Police have filed charges against two additional individuals who are not yet in custody.
Montianez Merriweather and Dekyra Vernon have been arrested in connection with a fight in Cincinnati that gained national attention over the weekend. (Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office)
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The Cincinnati Police Department did not return a request for comment Thursday and has not returned multiple comment requests throughout the week.
Over the week, Pureval’s office has not responded to multiple comment requests. Neither has the Cincinnati City Council nor the City Manager’s office.
Contributed by Greg Wehner.
