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Cincinnati assault: Mayor vows charges for everyone involved after pastor says it's 'still a racial issue'

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CINCINNATI Mayor Aftab Pureval held his first news conference since
early Saturday morning's viral beating in the downtown business
district, hours before a fourth suspect was arrested in connection with
the brawl. 

City officials and community leaders spoke during the briefing,
including announcing new criminal charges and more victims from the
assault. 

A local pastor, Reverend Damon Lynch, explained a version of events
based on video footage that he claims he's seen. He said that the white
man who was depicted in the video being pummeled actually started the
fight, leading to questions about whether the victims of the crime could
bear criminal responsibility. 

CINCINNATI BUSINESS OWNERS SLAM VIRAL 'OUT OF CONTROL' BEATING AMID
FIGHT TO CLEAN UP DOWNTOWN 

So far, there are six suspects in the crime, according to Police Chief
Teresa Theetge. Previously, only five had been announced. Four are in
custody, and police are actively searching for the two who remain on the
loose, calling them "fugitives." 

The fourth suspect, Dominique Kittle, 37, was arrested Friday evening,
authorities said. He is expected to be charged with felonious assault
and aggravated riot. 

Lynch said until "all the mugshots" are seen, race is still a factor in
the assault's aftermath. 

"For those who want to racialize it, then a black man stepped in between
the combatants, separated them and said, �this is about stop fighting,
everybody needs to chill.,'" he said. "And then, for those who want to
racialize it, the white man being steps back in the ring and slaps not
the black man that he had just squared up with, but slaps another black
man. So after that he was met with disproportionate force." 

"But when I see the mugshots, I only see people who look like me," said
Lynch, who is black. "I don't see the person who re-engaged. And so
until we see all the mugshots, this is still a racial issue." 

Asked why this was the first time anyone had heard that version of
events, Pureval cited the ongoing investigation, then said there would
be more arrests. 

"I agree with Pastor Lynch, that there is no doubt that this public
safety challenge, that this incident will require further investigation,
further charges and further arrests for every single person involved,"
he said. 

DEMOCRATIC POLICIES PAVED WAY FOR CINCINNATI BRAWL, SAY OHIO

"The investigation is ongoing, and I expect that we will have more
charges and more arrests as the investigation proceeds," the mayor said
later. 

"This was an awful incident, and our law enforcement has been working
quickly and effectively to bring all responsible to justice," he said
while standing alongside other city officials and leaders. "Let me be
clear there is no place for violent crime in Cincinnati, whether it's a
fight or gun violence. We will pursue those responsible and we will hold
them accountable no matter who they are." 

Pureval said later that observers have inflamed racial tensions in the
aftermath of the attack. 

"Cincinnati is a special place. We are a proudly diverse city with a
large and vibrant black community that is rich in tradition and
history," he said. "The racial dynamics of this fight are unavoidable,
and some have cynically used the opportunity to try and divide us along
racial lines. That is a choice we must firmly reject." 

Pureval also roundly denounced comments made on Facebook by City
Councilwoman Victoria Parks, who said the victims "begged for that beat
down!" 

"I am grateful for the whole story," Parks added in the post. 

"I profoundly disagree with Councilmember Victoria Parks. No one
deserves to be a victim of violent crime, ever," Pureval said. "And we
are working very hard to make sure that a fight like that doesn't happen
again in our city." 

During the news conference, Theetge provided updates on the progress in
the investigation into the brutal crime. 

Authorities had previously said five people had been charged, three of
whom had been arrested. Theetge said Friday that six people had now been
charged with felonious assault and aggravated rioting. The city's
fugitive apprehension unit is pursuing other suspects who have not been
captured yet. 

Theetge also said that six victims have been identified in the viral
attack � five males and one female. They were subjected to "unimaginable
physical violence," she said. 

DOJ, FBI INVESTIGATE BRUTAL CINCINNATI ASSAULT CAPTURED IN VIRAL VIDEO

Theetge said the city had 11 police officers working in the central
business district at the time of the attack, which she said was
sufficient. 

One of the three suspects apprehended so far in the brutal downtown
street beating last Saturday morning was set to be released on bond on
Friday. 

Jermaine Matthews, 39, was expected to leave the Hamilton County Jail on
Friday after paying a combined $270,000 bond. He was hit with four
charges stemming from the beatdown, according to his attorney, Brandon
Fox. 

"The way that it works, he's got an electronic monitoring component to
his bond," Fox told Fox News Digital. "Basically an ankle monitor. So,
while he posted the financial component, it still requires the probation
department to come over and ensure that the ankle monitor is on, [to]
tell him the rules, where he can go when, he can go there, that kind of
stuff." 

Matthews was charged with two counts of assault, two counts of felony
assault and aggravated riot for his alleged participation in the brutal
brawl, which has garnered national attention this week. 

During a bond hearing Thursday afternoon, Fox told the court that
Matthews did not start the fight. 

"That video that we discussed yesterday has now been released of that
individual slapping on my client and then the fight ensuing thereafter,"
he said. 

Fox also said that Matthews is not responsible for knocking unconscious
the male victim seen in the viral video. 

"That person was knocked unconscious by a different individual, and my
client moved that person from his business vehicle. That's where the
basis of that charge comes from," Fox said. 

Fox also claimed that one of the victims used racial slurs before the
fight. 

THIRD SUSPECT IN BRUTAL CINCINNATI BEATDOWN ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH
ASSAULT 

"I will tell you, that there's a lot more to the story than what's been
reported thus far," he told Fox News Digital on Friday. "We expect that
additional information will come forth today. That information will
likely dispel a lot of the narrative that's already been placed out by
politicians." 

Matthews' next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 8, according to
jail records. 

A Cincinnati Police detective was also present during the hearing and
disputed that the slap began the fight. 

He told the judge that "we have video footage that totally disputes the
slap being the first incident of someone putting their hands on
someone." 

Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor David Hickenlooper also weighed in.

"This person is unconscious," he said of the victim. "[Matthews] wasn't
rendering aid. He was dragging him into the middle of the street after
he had been knocked out. This is my understanding." 

Two other suspects remain in jail as of Friday morning. 

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. 

Theetge said the names of the three remaining suspects would be released
when they are captured. 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/cincinnati-viral-beating-suspect-posts-bond-ja
il-release-attorney-promises-other-side-story 

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