USA: Cincinnati Police Union Criticizes Arrest in Brawl

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Cincinnati, Ohio — The Cincinnati police union has condemned the arrest of a man who was initially described as a victim in a violent downtown street fight that went viral last month.

Police confirmed that 45-year-old Alex Tchervinski was arrested this week and charged with disorderly conduct for his alleged role in the July 26 altercation near West Fourth and Elm streets. Authorities initially withheld his name under Marsy’s Law, but his attorney, Douglas Brannon, later identified him publicly.

Brannon said Tchervinski was struck more than two dozen times and robbed while trying to protect his girlfriend and a friend. He argued his client acted in self-defense when he retaliated during the attack. “What this has done is make Alex a victim for the second time by bringing criminal charges against him,” Brannon said.

The incident was captured on bystander video showing a fight that quickly escalated, leaving at least six people injured. Seven other individuals, all previously identified by police, have been charged with multiple counts of assault and aggravated rioting.

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval defended the decision to charge Tchervinski, stating, “Anyone involved in perpetrating violence should be held accountable. This is another step toward achieving that, and I want to thank the CPD and the prosecutors for their hard work.”

However, the Fraternal Order of Police President Ken Kober sharply criticized the move, accusing city leaders of political interference. “Overruling law enforcement and prosecutors for cheap political points is a disgraceful stain on our city,” Kober said in a statement.

Community voices have also weighed in. Ohio state Rep. Cecil Thomas said the misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct was too lenient, suggesting more serious charges should have been considered. He added that equitable treatment was essential, regardless of race.

Meanwhile, NAACP Cincinnati President David Whitehead urged transparency in the process. “We still question the fairness in charging based on the information we have seen,” Whitehead said, adding that street altercations often result in disorderly conduct charges. He encouraged residents to participate in the judicial system through jury service.

One of the defendants, Gregory Wright, who has a prior criminal record, was also indicted on aggravated robbery charges for allegedly stealing Tchervinski’s necklace during the attack. His bond was recently reduced from $100,000 to $50,000, with the option to post 10%.

Tchervinski, now the eighth person arrested in connection to the case, is scheduled to appear in court on August 26.