CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland police arrested five youths Friday attempting as they tried break into Progressive Field and vandalize it with fire starters, authorities say.
Cleveland police Chief Calvin Williams said the five, who had protest signs, tried to enter the stadium during the city’s curfew. A police report said the five, from the Canton area, tried to climb a large fence at the stadium about 1:30 a.m. Friday.
When security at the ballpark noticed them, the employees turned on the stadium’s lights, prompting the youths to run toward Erieview Cemetery.
Within minutes, officers took them into custody. The youths originally said they were looking for a place to eat. They later said that they wanted to take pictures of the ballpark for Instagram, the report said. Police said the group, made up of three juveniles and two adults, who were 18, had fire starters and fire extinguishers in their car.
A representative for the Cleveland Indians declined to comment.
“A lot of people come here to tear down our city; we can’t let that happen,” Williams said.
The arrests came on the last day of the city’s curfew, which stemmed from Saturday’s violent protests downtown. Officers fired tear gas and rubber bullets as demonstrators burned police cars, vandalized the Justice Center and several buildings and attacked residents.
Police said 99 people were arrested, and dozens more on curfew violations. On Friday, the FBI announced the arrests of two men from Erie, Pennsylvania, Brandon Althof-Long and Devon Poland, on federal weapons charges stemming from the protests, authorities said.
“The curfew works,” Williams said. “The curfew works.”
On Wednesday, Cleveland attorney Mark Ondrejech sought to block the curfews, saying they were based on the whim of Mayor Frank Jackson. He said the city had calmed since the violence of last weekend. The city’s last curfew expired at 6 a.m. Friday.
“Once there is violence against people or property, we have to take action,” Jackson said Friday.
Asked about possible protests this weekend, Williams said: “We’re prepared. We’re prepared.”
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Cleveland police say five vandals arrested in attempted Progressive Field break-in - cleveland.com
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