CINCINNATI — Seventeen people have been arrested after Cincinnati police said large groups were creating "disorder and violence" on Opening Day.
Our crews were at Great American Ball Park when Cincinnati police and SWAT began clearing out The Banks, directing people towards "the city" just after 9 p.m. Thursday.
"This is your official warning ... it is time to go home," someone could be heard saying over a loudspeaker.
Watch: Video shows large crowds fighting at The Banks
Officers blocked the intersection of E. Freedom Way and Marian Spencer Way near Yard House restaurant, telling people they could not cross and should go around.
Throughout the day, our crews saw officers run to and from different downtown locations.
In one instance, officers told us that around 20 juveniles were fighting in Washington Park. In another, a large group of people began running through The Banks in the middle of the Reds game.
"We had multiple calls of large crowds ... where there was quite a bit of disorder and violence," CPD interim chief Adam Hennie said on Thursday night. "As officers were trying to dispatch into those areas, they met a lot of resistance."
Hennie said there were reports of people tasing or using chemical irritants against other people.
Fraternal Order of Police President Ken Kober called the situation "absolute chaos."
"Just mass hysteria, chaos," Kober said. "What should have been a fantastic day, beautiful weather in Cincinnati, you know, Major League Baseball back in Cincinnati, is completely overshadowed by juveniles that are just causing chaos."
He said police had to recall any off-duty SWAT or Civil Disturbance Response Team members available to come in to help manage the crowds. Hennie said those people were not deployed in riot gear, but did implement "standard crowd control techniques ... to restore order."
In a statement on Friday, Hennie said 17 people were arrested on charges including disorderly conduct, possession of weapons while intoxicated, failure to comply, assault and resisting arrest.
"We made 17 arrests involving individuals ranging in age from 14 to 50 years old, representing a mix of genders and backgrounds," Hennie said.
In Hamilton County Municipal Court, Judge Brad J. Greenberg released a statement noting the court will set "high bonds" on cases connected to Opening Day chaos.
"Opening Day in Cincinnati is special. Our traditions and history are unique," the statement says. "Violence and disorder will not be tolerated. Chaos at a large public event is dangerous and can spread like wildfire. This court will set high bonds on these cases to prevent reoccurrence and restore law and order."
WATCH: We were in court as multiple people arrested Thursday night were arraigned
Of the several people arraigned Friday morning, the highest bond was given to Iyonna Fairbanks, a woman accused of purposely scratching an officer's face and drawing blood. Her attorneys said she was trying to get to her mother on the other side of the parade route when officers told her she had to stay where she was.
Prosecutors claim she became erratic, and an officer who tried to arrest her suffered "several huge scratch marks on his left cheek, nose and a few scrapes to his hand." Fairbanks' bond was set to $210,000.
Another person, Shekwon Walker, is accused of hitting an officer from behind. His bond was set at $140,000.
Friday morning, Mayor Aftab Pureval released a statement, calling the events "an outrage."
"This is exactly what causes fear and concern among our guests who come to support our urban core," the statement continues.
Pureval thanked Cincinnati Police and other law enforcement partners involved in the police response.
"I am glad that they are OK," Pureval wrote. "But we cannot ask this of them every night. My expectation is full accountability from those involved last night and that every stakeholder and community member is willing to work with us to prevent this from happening again."
