A working-class woman who was severely battered in a wild street brawl in Cincinnati has claimed the city’s police chief and mayor have not acknowledged her at all.
The victim, only identified as Holly, was attacked in the downtown area of the Ohio city on July 26 around 3am alongside an unknown man.
The violent encounter was captured on camera by several bystanders as Holly, who said she tried to step in to help the man, got beaten to a pulp and was left with brain trauma.
In her first sit-down interview with political commentator Benny Johnson on Tuesday, Holly revealed she has been ignored by Mayor Aftab Pureval and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge, who, according to Johnson, are ‘implicated in this.’
Johnson asked her: ‘Has the mayor of Cincinnati or police chief been in contact with you?’
‘No,’ Holly replied, shaking her head as bruises covered her face.
‘That’s astonishing Holly, that the mayor of the city, who’s implicated in this, and the police chief, who’s implicated in this, have not even contacted you for the attempted murder that happened in their street live on camera,’ Johnson continued as Holly agreed.
Holly also said that police ‘acted nonchalant’ when they arrived at the scene and did not call for backup or an ambulance.
Holly, the woman who was savagely beat up a group of people in a street brawl on July 26, said she is being ignored by the city’s mayor and police chief
The violent encounter was captured on camera by several bystanders as Holly, who said she tried to step in to help the man, got beaten to a pulp
‘They were less than helpful is all I can say. So, I wound up getting in my Uber when it showed up and went home and tried to sleep off the concussion,’ Holly explained.
‘They didn’t even get a statement. No, the police were very, opposite of helpful.. They made me feel so uncomfortable.
‘They don’t even get my name. They don’t even care enough to get my name.’
She went on to defend her actions that night, noting that she was the only person who decided to jump in to help the man because it was ‘the right thing to do.’
‘There were 100 people there that night and I jumped in, I was the only one who jumped in, to try and save him because that was the right thing to do.
‘And, yeah, unfortunately they attacked me as well for trying to do the right thing,’ Holly added.
Holly, who’s described herself as a single working-class mother, said out of the large crowd of people, the only person who called 911 was another victim.
‘So not one person decided to call 911 and then film these heinous crimes and attempted murder, because that is what it is no matter what they label it.
When asked by political commentator Benny Johnson if Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval (pictured) has been in contact with her, Holly said no
Holly said Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge (pictured) has also not reached out to her. The chief recently said the outrage surrounding the incident lacked ‘context’
‘It was attempted murder,’ Holly said, adding that those who watched on should feel ‘shame’ for their actions
Days after the video of the vicious fight went viral, Chief Theetge said the outrage surrounding it lacked ‘context.’
Chief Theetge also took aim at the media for only showing ‘one version’ of what occurred – without giving any more context about the fight herself.
‘Social media and journalism and the role it plays in this incident, the posts that we have seen does not depict the entire incident,’ she said.
‘That is one version of what occurred. At times social media and mainstream media and their commentaries are a misrepresentation of the circumstances surrounding any given event.
‘That causes us some difficulties in thoroughly investigating the activity and enforcing the law. Social media posts and your coverage of it distort the context of what actually happened, and that makes it more difficult.’
Five suspects were arrested following the brawl – Jermaine Matthews, 39, Montianez Merriweather, 34, and Dominique Kittle, 37, and Patrick Rosemond, 38.
Rosemond was arrested in Georgia on Monday and has been charged with two counts of felonious assault and aggravated riot, as well as one count of fugitive from justice for a fingerprintable charge. Police are still searching for a sixth suspect.
Matthews and Merriweather were initially charged with aggravated riot and assault over the brawl.
Patrick Rosemond, 38, was arrested in Georgia on Monday in connection to the violent attack. Police are still searching for a sixth suspect
Jermaine Matthews, left, and Dominique Kittle are both facing charges in connection with the brawl
Dekyra Vernon, 24, (left) and Montianez Merriweather, 34, (right) were also taken into custody in connection with the melee
Images showed Holly’s extensive injuries with both sides of her face were extremely bruised following the assault
Matthews, however, was hit with three more charges on Thursday – two felonious assault and one misdemeanor assault charge.
It is alleged that Merriweather was the ‘catalyst’ for what detectives have described as a ‘coordinated attack’.
Kittle, who was taken into police custody on Friday night, was charged with felonious assault and aggravated riot. His bond was set at $150,000.
An online fundraiser has since been created to help Holly get back on her feet following the fight.
As of Wednesday morning, more than $530,000 was raised to help her out.
Daily Mail contacted Mayor Pureval and Chief Theetge for comment.
