CLEVELAND — Ohio is open for business. Retail, restaurants, recreation are all hanging the “We’re Open” sign.
The weather is heating up and people are heading out. But, under the Stay Safe Ohio order, events and mass gathering of more than 10 people are not allowed.
“It’s starting to pick up a little more, we are starting to get some calls,” said Avon Police Department’s Public Information Officer Jim Drozdowski.
In Avon, calls for people gathering and not social distancing are increasing, but so far, he said officers have not had to cite or even warn anybody yet.
But that is not the case in Willoughby Hills.
Several 911 calls to the Lake County department for a loud, out of control party with shots fired last month led to about a dozen people being charged. Those charges included violating the health department’s order.
Police said when they arrived several people had barricaded themselves inside the Airbnb rental. SWAT had to be called.
“We don’t have any intention of going out and specifically look for and targeting people involved in large gatherings. However, we are responsible to calls that concerned citizens call into us,” said Sgt. Matt Naegele. “It’s a matter of reasonableness."
Summit County Sheriff’s Deputies have been dispatched for social distancing defiance too.
“We are not the social distancing police. Obviously, if we are called, we go to a park and if there is a big group of people congregating, we’re going to address those people,” said Inspector Bill Holland with the Summit County Sheriff’s Department.
All departments agree it comes down to common sense.
“We’re asking people to use common sense, so we don’t have to be involved, “said Drozdowski.
