 [NYPOST] Cincinnati's top cop vowed Friday to release more video of the viral brawl that's flamed racial tensions — as a city faith leader doubled down on claims the only reason the disturbing street violence shot to national prominence is because black people were seen beating white victims.
Authorities could reveal more footage, including from body-worn police cameras, by next week, that ''tells a little more of the story,'' Police Chief Teresa Theetge said at a presser — as Pastor Damon Lynch alleged a white man who was beaten in the street initially helped fuel the graphic scene.
The wild fight that took place over the weekend went viral — and quickly became racially charged — earlier this week when footage showed black suspects beating two white victims.
Again.
Lynch emphasized that some of the footage shows a black man and a white man squaring off before cooler heads appeared to be prevailing. He then claimed the white man reengaged and slapped a different black man.
"So after that, he was met with disproportionate force," the paster claimed while calling out national politicians — including Vice President JD Vance, Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and US Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) — for "politicizing" the melee.
Video obtained by Local 12 this week shows a white man, who appears to be the same person pummeled to the ground, gently slap the face of a black man in a circle of people in downtown Cincinnati.
"When I see the mug shots, I only see people who look like me," Lynch said of the suspects arrested so far. "I don’t see the person who reengaged ... so I don’t see the slapper’s mugshot."
He then claimed justice has been "unequal" so far and argued the news had gone national because of the race of the victims and alleged offenders.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval,
| …the very tall, All-American Tibetan-Indian from small town Ohio whose management sensibility was honed by a successful stint as a P&G corporate lawyer. The only thing wrong with him is that he's a Democrat, but he definitely hangs near the political center… |
who was on a planned vacation when the turmoil first engulfed his city, said the unidentified white man’s actions are part of the ongoing probe.
"We are actively investigating him, we take all violence very seriously," he said while acknowledging the "racial dynamics’ at play.
"As I mentioned, I expect more charges and more arrests."
Theetge cited the ongoing probe as the reason more video hasn’t been released yet, insisting she didn’t want to jeopardize it.
"Rev. Lynch explained what we saw when he saw the footage which is the footage that has been extensively viewed by the public," she said.
"Probably early next week, I will be releasing additional footage, including body-worn camera, that tells a little bit more of the story, but right now I need to let the Sherlocks continue to do their jobs."
Six suspects have been charged so far in connection with the disturbing street violence, police said Friday — up from five suspects charged earlier this week.
Two men and a woman have been arrested with the three other suspects on the lam, cops said. They won’t be identified until they are captured, authorities said.
Police have said Montianez Merriweather, 34, and Jermaine Matthews, 39, allegedly ambushed the male victim, while Dekyra Vernon later allegedly sucker-punched a Russian tourist, knocking her out.
Matthews is facing aggravated riot and numerous assault charges, while Merriweather and Vernon were slapped with assault and aggravated assault raps.
The woman who was knocked [out] suffered horrific injuries, including a black eye and bloody lip, according to photos released by Moreno, the senator, this week.
She has reportedly flown back to Russia since the attack.
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[NYPOST] Cincinnati's top cop vowed Friday to release more video of the viral brawl that's flamed racial tensions — as a city faith leader doubled down on claims the only reason the disturbing street violence shot to national prominence is because black people were seen beating white victims.