More than a dozen people have been arrested for what police are calling “disruptive and unruly behavior” during Opening Day celebrations.The crowds were captured on multiple videos that were shared throughout the night Thursday.The unruly behavior caused police to shut down portions of The Banks and businesses and even entrances to bridges into Kentucky. It also prompted statements from several city officials, including the mayor.17 arrests made Cincinnati Police Chief Adam Hennie says 17 people, ranging in age from 14 to 50, were arrested as a result of several chaotic crowds throughout downtown Thursday.”Yesterday, our city celebrated one of our most cherished traditions, Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds,” Hennie said in a statement. “We as a department planned extensively for this event and ensured we had appropriate staffing levels throughout the day to support public safety.”He said those arrested have been charged with disorderly conduct, possession of weapons while intoxicated, failure to comply, assault and resisting arrest. Suspects appear in courtMultiple people who were charged appeared in court Friday. Judge Brad Greenberg had some strong words for those appearing in court, saying, in part, “Violence and disorder will not be tolerated. Chaos at a public event is dangerous and can spread like wildfire.”Judge Greenberg also said that he was “going to be setting some high bonds” in these cases to “prevent recurrence and restore law and order.”One of the people in court, Shekwon Walker, is accused of striking an officer in the back His bond was set at $140,000 secured on charges of assault, resisting arrest, obstructing and disorderly.Hennie’s statement also clarifies, what he calls, an important point regarding the response of law enforcement: “Officers were not deployed in riot gear. However, when large crowds began to create safety concerns, our officers did implement standard crowd control techniques to disperse groups and restore order. These measures are designed to prevent situations from escalating and to protect everyone present.”Videos capture chaosSeveral videos surfaced online showing people pushing, shoving and falling over each other, as well as fights breaking out in different areas, such as Fountain Square, Washington Park and Over-the-Rhine.Video obtained by WLWT shows crowds swarming officers at the Banks Thursday evening. People can be seen pushing, shoving and falling over each other. The aunt of a 13-year-old girl said the teenager was brutally beaten and kicked by a half dozen people in Over-the-Rhine, shortly after the game started.The victim’s family is hoping to identify the attackers, who remain on the loose. Officials respond to chaos, arrests”I want to thank the men and women of the Cincinnati Police Department for their unwavering dedication and hard work that was shown last night,” Hennie shared in his statement. “I want them to know their work does not go unnoticed, and I am grateful for the service they provide to our city every day. I would also like to extend my appreciation to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol for their support and assistance.”“It’s an outrage. This is exactly what causes fear and concern among our guests who come to support our urban core,” Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said in a statement. “It’s the kind of behavior that forces us to look at and implement more severe crowd control restrictions in our Downtown.””Thank you to our Cincinnati Police Department for your quick and effective work. I’m grateful that our Police, Hamilton County Sheriff, and state law partners were prepared with a coordinated and swift response to keep folks safe and prevent things from escalating even further,” the mayor continued. “I am glad that they are okay. But we cannot ask this of them every night.”My expectation is full accountability from those involved last night, and that every stakeholder and community member is willing to work with us to prevent this from happening again,” Mayor Pureval’s statement concludes.Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long released her own statement Friday, saying, “The disruptive and violent actions exhibited last night will not be tolerated in our City. What should have been a day celebrating a long-standing Cincinnati tradition has been overshadowed by unruly crowds set on chaos.”CPD did what it does best – protect the safety and security of our residents and visitors. I want to commend the entire department for their preparation and collective response. I’m grateful to our officers, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol for working together to de-escalate the situation,” her statement continued. “As a community, we must do better.”In a social media post, Cincinnati’s police union—FOP Queen City Lodge No. 69—asked for prayers for the officers “trying to manage an unruly crowd of criminals that are terrorizing OTR, Downtown and the Banks.” The union’s post continues, saying, “this is a direct result of a soft on crime City Hall and Hamilton County Judges. Welcome to lawless Cincinnati.”The businesses in the area where one of the viral videos took place, The Banks, also released a statement, thanking law enforcement for their actions and ensuring the area is a safe place for fun.”As part of a beautiful Opening Day of events, the businesses at The Banks in partnership with the Reds Community Fund hosted the annual Block Party from 11:00am-3:30pm with no incidents,” the statement begins. “In the evening when the disturbances that were happening elsewhere in the city started to surface at The Banks, we immediately cooperated with CPD in clearing the area and closing down our businesses. We thank the Cincinnati Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, and the Ohio State Patrol for their help, and we will continue to work together to ensure The Banks is a safe place to have fun.”

CINCINNATI —

More than a dozen people have been arrested for what police are calling “disruptive and unruly behavior” during Opening Day celebrations.

The crowds were captured on multiple videos that were shared throughout the night Thursday.

The unruly behavior caused police to shut down portions of The Banks and businesses and even entrances to bridges into Kentucky. It also prompted statements from several city officials, including the mayor.

17 arrests made

Cincinnati Police Chief Adam Hennie says 17 people, ranging in age from 14 to 50, were arrested as a result of several chaotic crowds throughout downtown Thursday.

“Yesterday, our city celebrated one of our most cherished traditions, Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds,” Hennie said in a statement. “We as a department planned extensively for this event and ensured we had appropriate staffing levels throughout the day to support public safety.”

He said those arrested have been charged with disorderly conduct, possession of weapons while intoxicated, failure to comply, assault and resisting arrest.

Suspects appear in court

Multiple people who were charged appeared in court Friday. Judge Brad Greenberg had some strong words for those appearing in court, saying, in part, “Violence and disorder will not be tolerated. Chaos at a public event is dangerous and can spread like wildfire.”

Judge Greenberg also said that he was “going to be setting some high bonds” in these cases to “prevent recurrence and restore law and order.”

One of the people in court, Shekwon Walker, is accused of striking an officer in the back His bond was set at $140,000 secured on charges of assault, resisting arrest, obstructing and disorderly.

Hennie’s statement also clarifies, what he calls, an important point regarding the response of law enforcement: “Officers were not deployed in riot gear. However, when large crowds began to create safety concerns, our officers did implement standard crowd control techniques to disperse groups and restore order. These measures are designed to prevent situations from escalating and to protect everyone present.”

Videos capture chaos

Several videos surfaced online showing people pushing, shoving and falling over each other, as well as fights breaking out in different areas, such as Fountain Square, Washington Park and Over-the-Rhine.

Video obtained by WLWT shows crowds swarming officers at the Banks Thursday evening. People can be seen pushing, shoving and falling over each other.

The aunt of a 13-year-old girl said the teenager was brutally beaten and kicked by a half dozen people in Over-the-Rhine, shortly after the game started.

The victim’s family is hoping to identify the attackers, who remain on the loose.

Officials respond to chaos, arrests

“I want to thank the men and women of the Cincinnati Police Department for their unwavering dedication and hard work that was shown last night,” Hennie shared in his statement. “I want them to know their work does not go unnoticed, and I am grateful for the service they provide to our city every day. I would also like to extend my appreciation to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol for their support and assistance.”

“It’s an outrage. This is exactly what causes fear and concern among our guests who come to support our urban core,” Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said in a statement. “It’s the kind of behavior that forces us to look at and implement more severe crowd control restrictions in our Downtown.”

“Thank you to our Cincinnati Police Department for your quick and effective work. I’m grateful that our Police, Hamilton County Sheriff, and state law partners were prepared with a coordinated and swift response to keep folks safe and prevent things from escalating even further,” the mayor continued. “I am glad that they are okay. But we cannot ask this of them every night.

“My expectation is full accountability from those involved last night, and that every stakeholder and community member is willing to work with us to prevent this from happening again,” Mayor Pureval’s statement concludes.

Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long released her own statement Friday, saying, “The disruptive and violent actions exhibited last night will not be tolerated in our City. What should have been a day celebrating a long-standing Cincinnati tradition has been overshadowed by unruly crowds set on chaos.

“CPD did what it does best – protect the safety and security of our residents and visitors. I want to commend the entire department for their preparation and collective response. I’m grateful to our officers, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol for working together to de-escalate the situation,” her statement continued. “As a community, we must do better.”

In a social media post, Cincinnati’s police union—FOP Queen City Lodge No. 69—asked for prayers for the officers “trying to manage an unruly crowd of criminals that are terrorizing OTR, Downtown and the Banks.”

The union’s post continues, saying, “this is a direct result of a soft on crime City Hall and Hamilton County Judges. Welcome to lawless Cincinnati.”

The businesses in the area where one of the viral videos took place, The Banks, also released a statement, thanking law enforcement for their actions and ensuring the area is a safe place for fun.

“As part of a beautiful Opening Day of events, the businesses at The Banks in partnership with the Reds Community Fund hosted the annual Block Party from 11:00am-3:30pm with no incidents,” the statement begins. “In the evening when the disturbances that were happening elsewhere in the city started to surface at The Banks, we immediately cooperated with CPD in clearing the area and closing down our businesses. We thank the Cincinnati Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, and the Ohio State Patrol for their help, and we will continue to work together to ensure The Banks is a safe place to have fun.”