CLEVELAND, OH — As a task force of federal and local law enforcement work to identify the people responsible for the violence that erupted last weekend, Cleveland police are preparing for the possibility of more trouble this weekend.
"We have a plan in place that we think is more than adequate to take care of not just the protests, but the entire city throughout the weekend," said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams.
The chief said Friday morning officers arrested five people trying to break into Progressive Field. Williams said officers found items used to start fires, extinguishers, and signs indicating the group was here to protest, inside a car parked nearby.
Williams would not say if police received specific threats of violence this weekend, but Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish said deputies are preparing.
"The sheriff's department is on alert, has been alerted to the possibility of more protests this weekend," said Budish. "It's my understanding from the sheriff that they have the deputies ready to go and they will be positioned in the places that are needed."
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said the city will not stand for the violence that destroyed parts of downtown Saturday.
"Everyone has the right for peaceful demonstrations and protests," said Jackson, "but once there's violence against people or destruction of property, then we need to take actions to address that."
