Latest news with #ClevelandDivisionofPolice
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City officials: Safety reminders, parking restrictions ahead of downtown protests
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Cleveland police are issuing safety reminders ahead of expected protests this weekend in downtown Cleveland. 'We want to make sure people's First Amendment speech is protected. We want to make sure folks are heard. At the same time, we just want them to do so lawfully,' said Sgt. Freddy Diaz with Cleveland police. Diaz said the Cleveland Division of Police are prepared for the expected crowds. 'Safety is our number one priority. However, we want to remind people that there are other activities downtown, other events as well,' said Diaz. He disappeared in 1991. Investigators now dig for clues in his family's old backyard Cleveland is one of hundreds of cities planning to hold a 'No Kings' rally on Saturday as a show of opposition while a military parade is held the same day in Washington, D.C. The protest also overlaps with the city's Juneteenth celebrations on Mall C. In addition, there are several other events downtown. 'We have an emergency operations plan in place. We have officers placed at strategic places. We have discussed a variety of scenarios,' said Diaz. Diaz said the protest will begin at Cleveland's iconic Free Stamp and organizers have agreed to keep people on the sidewalks. 'To encourage those that are participating to step out onto the street puts a liability on the organizers, so that's a reminder we want to put out,' said Diaz. Honor Home for women veterans opens in Stark County Due to the expected protest and events, parking restrictions will be in effect on several downtown streets, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday through 4 a.m. Sunday. At the same time, Downtown Cleveland Inc. is also planning to assist the tens of thousands of people expected to converge on downtown Cleveland. 'Our ambassadors will be out in full swing. There will be significant visibility throughout Public Square and downtown. They are there to answer questions, provide services like if people need directions to where they want to go,' said Olivia Willis, with Downtown Cleveland Inc. The parking restrictions include: West Mall Drive, Lakeside to Rockwell W. 9th St., Superior to Front W. 6th St., Superior to Lakeside W. 3rd St., Rockwell to Summit W. 4th St., Lakeside to St. Clair E. 6th St., Euclid to Lakeside E. 9th St., Prospect to Lakeside E. 12th St., Euclid to Lakeside E. 4th St., Huron to Prospect E. 2nd St., High to Prospect Lakeside Ave., E. 12th St. to W. 9th St. St. Clair Ave., E. 12th St. to W. 9th St. Superior Ave, E. 12th St. to W. 9th St. Rockwell Ave, E. 12th St. to W. 3rd St. Euclid Ave., E. 12th St. to Public Square Prospect Ave., E. 12th St. to Public Square Vincent, E. 6th St. to E. 12th St. Chester, E. 9th St. to E. 13th St. Walnut. E. 9th St. to E. 12th St. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Yahoo
Keshaun Williams has been missing for nearly 2 years
CLEVELAND (WJW) — A Cleveland teenager is still missing, and nearly two years later, investigators are making another push to bring him home. Keshaun Williams was just 15 years old when he disappeared in June of 2023. Today, he'd be 17. VIDEO: Cleveland firefighters rescue workers from side of building after scaffolding collapses Federal authorities and Cleveland police are once again urging the public to keep his case top of mind, and they're hoping a boosted reward and community attention can lead to new answers. Vinny Piccoli, a U.S. deputy marshal and one of the lead investigators on the case, said this one hits hard. 'That's probably the single most frustrating part of this,' Piccoli said. 'There are people that absolutely know what happened.' Williams was last seen attending a house party on Cleveland's west side. Since then, there have been no verified sightings and no major breakthroughs. Still, Piccoli said the search is very much active. 'We work this case like it happened yesterday,' he said. 'Every tip matters.' As the two-year mark approaches, the U.S. Marshals and Cleveland Division of Police have increased the reward for information to $27,500 — one of the largest rewards ever offered in this region for a missing child. Piccoli said there have been a few recent credible tips — a rarity in this case. Authorities are urging anyone with even the smallest piece of information to come forward. Cleveland police Sgt. Freddy Diaz emphasized that detectives are following up on every single lead. 'We are 100% looking at them,' Diaz said. 'Our detectives take every lead seriously and follow up on them.' Look to see all the Goodyear blimps together over NE Ohio today For the U.S. Marshals, the goal is simple: keep Keshaun's name in the public eye, and keep pressure on the people who may know something. 'Main thing for us is to keep his story out there,' Piccoli said. 'We are in touch with the family every step of the way. They just want answers.' And that message, investigators said, is what this case is all about — a family still waiting for answers, a community that can still help and a team that refuses to give up. 'It's very frustrating on all sides,' Piccoli added. 'For us, Cleveland police — and especially the family. All they want is answers. We want the same thing.' If you have any information about the disappearance of Keshaun Williams, contact Cleveland police at 216-623-5400 or the U.S. Marshals tip line at 1-866-4-WANTED (1-866-492-6833). That $27,500 reward remains available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bibb Administration introduces safer parking legislation to Cleveland City Council
CLEVELAND (WJW) — Mayor Justin Bibb's administration has introduced legislation to City Council aimed at cutting down on crime in public parking garages and lots downtown. If the legislation passes, applicants for licenses will be required to submit and follow public safety plans approved by the chief of police. Your Ohio electric bills are probably going up this month The mayor said the goal is to reduce vehicle break-ins and thefts, easing the burden on the Cleveland Division of Police to monitor parking lots. 'This legislation is the latest installment of Mayor Bibb's Rise Initiative and really the all-of-community approach to public safety,' spokesperson Tyler Sinclair said. Sinclair said the city is taking parking safety seriously. If the new legislation passes, public parking operators downtown will have to apply for a license and include a safety plan in their application. Prevention is the priority. 'These customers, whether it be downtown residents, downtown workers during the day, or downtown visitors in the evening and on weekends — we want to ensure that their property, in this instance their cars, is kept safe,' he said. The chief of police will approve the safety plans, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The chief will determine if more infrastructure is needed. 'That's lighting, signage, personnel — whether they have a security guard patrolling or someone else — or technology. That can be a camera system, CCTV, or alarm system,' Sinclair said. K&D Properties has nine luxury apartment communities downtown with attached garages operated by ABM Industries. Senate leaders introduce new funding plan for Browns dome CEO Douglas Price III said safe parking is always a priority. 'Obviously not everyone runs their garages the same, so I know we're fine,' Price said. 'I can't speak to other owners. I know there are other situations where maybe they aren't running things properly.' Price said petty crime like vehicle break-ins happens from time to time, but over the past year he's seen improvements in public safety and awareness. He said he's glad to see the city committed to better safety downtown. 'The initiative the police really led — and we worked closely through DCI with the police department — really got on the car vandalism,' Price said. 'Because, you know, before, they didn't really see it as a big crime. But when you put it all together, it's tens of thousands of dollars in one night.' So how will this be enforced? The city said multiple nuisance activities or crimes would trigger a requirement for a new safety plan. If issues continue, the license could be revoked. Civil penalties could also be imposed. Those who violate certain sections — such as failing to maintain their lot or comply with the safety plan — would face a $200 civil penalty for each offense. Those who operate without a license would face a $1,000 penalty for the first offense and $3,000 for each subsequent offense. 'It doesn't matter if it's one car break-in or 100,' Sinclair said. 'What that does is it affects the perception of crime in the city, and that's something we're trying to significantly curb.' Not everyone sold on I-X Center transformation plan There is concern that if operators add more security measures, parking prices could increase — passing the cost on to customers. The city said it is hopeful that won't be the case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cleveland police searching for missing 13-year-old girl
CLEVELAND (WJW) – The Cleveland Division of Police is searching for a teenage girl who was reported missing from the city on Monday. Aalayah Brown, 13, was last seen leaving her home in the 18800 block of Arrowhead Avenue around 4:45 p.m. on Monday. Investigators said she hasn't returned since. Officers return fire, take cover in shooting near University of Akron She is 5'4″ tall and 115 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. The teen was last seen wearing a hoodie, black t-shirt and gray jogging pants. Anyone with information on her whereabouts should reach out to the Cleveland Division of Police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mayor Bibb addresses violent crime, homelessness concerns at town hall
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Mayor Justin Bibb hosted a town hall at Westropp Elementary on Wednesday, with residents airing their concerns about violence, homelessness and more. The mayor and city leaders promised to address these growing issues as the historically more violent summer months approach. 'We have to do a better job of being better neighbors to one another,' Bibb said. Bibb opened the town hall by addressing violent crime seemingly caused by mental health episodes, following a murder-suicide on Munn Road and a stabbing in the locker room at Gunning Park Rec Center on Tuesday. The person accused of the stabbing is in custody, according to Cleveland police. 'We have far too many incidents in our community where people are using guns to solve disputes,' Bibb said. 'That is not the way to solve disputes.' Cleveland firefighter arrested at firehouse, accused of violent assault: I-Team Bibb and other city representatives said mental health episodes are behind many violent crimes, like the murder-suicide on Munn Road. It's an issue the city said it is committed to eradicating. Bibb said he is encouraged by crime statistics so far this year, citing a drop in violent crime across the city, including a 35% decrease in the murder rate. He said use-of-force incidents are also down. Residents at the town hall, however, are taking the statistics with a grain of salt, with five concerned citizens raising questions about crime, homelessness and corruption. 'You come off the highway at West 150th, it's an absolute disaster,' said Tom Baldwin, a 40-year Cleveland resident. 'There's at least 15 people. They got shopping carts, they got furniture. They're sleeping in the road during the day.' I-Team: New look into casino incident with police monitor The bottom line: Residents want a safer city and a crackdown on crime in Cleveland. 'I want police in my neighborhood,' Baldwin said. 'I pay taxes for that. I don't see police cars anymore.' 'I think everybody in our city wants to be safe,' Bibb said. 'They want their neighborhood to feel safe. They want their quality of life to be in good standing.' The Cleveland Division of Police said Operation Summer Breeze will be announced soon—an action plan aimed at keeping city streets safer this summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
