CINCINNATI — People in Cincinnati remain split after police announced the latest charge in connection with the late-July downtown fight.
Dozens of people, including faith leaders in the community, gathered at Fountain Square on Thursday to voice their concerns about a disorderly conduct charge against Alex Tchervinski, a 45-year-old white man who became the eighth person charged in connection with the fight.
The seven people previously charged were Black, something Black community leaders took issue with — calling for police to charge a white man they believed to have incited the fight.
"We think he was undercharged and the African Americans were overcharged," Pastor Damon Lynch III said.
Lynch was one of the faith leaders who spoke at Fountain Square. He said he and other faith leaders condemn the brawl that took place.
Hear why some people aren't satisfied with the latest charges in the video below:
He claimed Tchervinski is the man seen on video slapping another man. He said things had calmed down before that slap.
"He decided to walk forward, re-engage and then slap somebody in the face, which brought about the aggravated rioting and the brawl," Lynch said. "He should be charged for that."
Many of the people at Fountain Square on Thursday had signs, one of them reading "NO SLAP, NO SCRAP," a motto that was echoed by many people there. The person holding the sign tells us they feel that if the slap hadn't happened, the brawl would have been avoided.
Lynch said he feels Tchervinski should face felony charges. He said he wants the city solicitor's office to explain exactly what behavior Tchervinski showed that led to the disorderly conduct charge. He said he feels the video shows Tchervinski instigated the fight.
Six of the seven people previously charged face felonious assault and aggravated rioting charges. If they're convicted on all the charges they face now, each suspect could face up to around 29 years in prison. The seventh person arrested, Gregory Wright, was charged with aggravated robbery and aggravated rioting.
"We want the prosecutor's office, Connie Pillich, to explain why she is sitting on her hands," Lynch said.
However, not everyone agrees that Tchervinski should be charged. That includes FOP President Ken Kober.
"It doesn't make sense to me," Kober said.
He said he questions the reasoning behind the charges.
Kober claimed officials were "pressuring" the Cincinnati Police Department to find a crime to charge Tchervinski.
"Why are we waiting six weeks to sign a misdemeanor in the fourth degree? I mean, it's very, very easy for the public to see that this is politically motivated," Kober said.
Kober said his opinion is based on what a CPD captain told him.
"He told me that the solicitor's office ordered the police department to do this," Kober said.
We took Kober's claims to the city and asked them what went into the decision to charge Tchervinski.
A spokesperson said in a statement that the city solicitor did not "force" police to charge Tchervinski, who city officials and police have not identified, citing Marsy's Law's protection of victims.
"Charging decisions are based upon evidence and supported by probable cause. The Solicitor did not force CPD to file a charge," the statement says.
We asked Kober about the city's response to his claims:
"I guess somebody is not telling the truth," Kober said.
WATCH: Reaction to the most recent arrest in a violent Cincinnati fight
Police Chief Teresa Theetge said in a press conference days after the fight that anyone who "placed their hands on somebody in an attempt to cause harm" will face consequences.
"I don't care which side of the incident, the fight, they were on ... that's unacceptable," Theetge said at the time.
After Tchervinski was charged, Mayor Aftab Pureval reiterated that anyone involved in the violence "should be held accountable."
"This is another step toward achieving that, and I want to thank CPD and the prosecutors for their hard work as this process continues," the mayor said in a statement.
Police said the investigation into the fight is "active and ongoing." Anyone who witnessed something or has additional information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.
