Cincinnati Police Chief Slams Bystanders After Mob Attack

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge expressed outrage on Monday after only one person called 911 while a mob of nearly 100 bystanders watched and in some cases filmed a brutal attack on a man and a woman in downtown Cincinnati last weekend.

Video of the attack, which quickly went viral, shows a man being beaten to the ground by a group of mostly black assailants while onlookers jeer, record the violence on their phones, or simply do nothing. The footage also shows a woman, identified by GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy as "Holly," being punched in the face and knocked unconscious while trying to shield the man from further harm.

“For us to have 100 or so people down there, involved in, and/or watching this event, recording with their cell phones, and for us to get only one phone call of this incident is unacceptable in this city,” Theetge said during a press conference. “One person did the right thing and called 911.”

Theetge confirmed that five suspects have already been charged, with more arrests expected as investigators analyze footage from the scene.

“Anyone who put their hands on another individual during this incident in an attempt to cause harm will face consequences. I don’t care which side of the incident or the fight they were on. If they placed their hands on somebody in an attempt to cause harm, that is unacceptable,” Theetge emphasized.

Authorities believe alcohol played a role in the incident and are investigating whether some individuals were overserved at nearby establishments.

The brawl, which took place late Friday night or early Saturday morning, has raised serious questions about public safety in downtown Cincinnati.

• Video shows the male victim beaten for nearly a minute, left bloodied and stumbling, while no police officers or emergency responders were present.

• Holly, the female victim, was reportedly left without immediate medical assistance and had to rely on bystanders for help.

• The incident has further fueled public outrage over lawlessness in Democrat-run cities.

Ohio Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, now running for governor, said he spoke directly with Holly.

“It’s unconscionable that there were no police present in that area of Cincinnati on a Friday night, or even an ambulance to take her to the hospital,” Ramaswamy wrote on X. “Hard-working Americans shouldn’t have to worry for their safety when they have a good time in our cities.”

Ramaswamy blamed the breakdown of law and order on leftist policies.

“Leftists like to lecture about ‘systemic injustice’ while thugs turn our cities into war zones. I’m done with their excuses. As governor, I’ll make sure they’re behind bars, not running wild,” he added.

The Cincinnati attack is just the latest in a string of violent mob incidents across the country, where crowds stand by or record instead of stepping in or calling for help. The incident highlights the growing cultural and political divide on law enforcement, public safety, and the role of bystanders in preventing violence.

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