Two men arrested, one stabbed following fight

Lorain police arrested two Elyria men as a result of a large fight Aug. 1 that led to one man being stabbed.

Officers responded at 11 p.m. to West Erie and Washington avenues for a fight in progress with a large group of people all around a building and in street, according to a police report.

The report said officers observed well over 200 people in front of the building, on both Washington Avenue and on West Erie Avenue.

The crowd made little to no effort enforcing the face covering mandate and social distancing recommendations amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to the report.

Large groups of people were seen fighting in different areas around surrounding buildings.

The rioters spilled into the street preventing motorists from proceeding through and refused to follow commands to disperse; some rioters set off fireworks, the report said.

Officers tried to disperse the crowds by advising people to leave the area.

The crowds momentarily would disperse, but quickly gathered back together as officers moved away from a particular area.

Officers continued with attempts to disperse the crowd but it became apparent very quickly that taking enforcement action was the only course of action.

Police then turned their attention to a 24-year-old Elyria man who was in a large group of men in the alley on the west side of the building.

When officers attempted to verbally disperse the crowd, the man stated he was not leaving while shouting other profanities at them.

After a foot chase, officers pointed a stun gun and then arrested him on West Erie Avenue near Hamilton Avenue.

While officers made the arrest, a 31-year-old Elyria man came sprinting toward officers.

He was told several times by officers to leave the area or face arrest.

Despite several warnings, he continued to obstruct the investigation and was taken into custody.

Officers attempted to take the men to Lorain County Jail, but the jail, due to their COVID-19 policies, would not accept either man due to one having been there within the last 30 days and the other having a temperature of over 100 degrees.

Both men were issued a summons and released.

Their misdemeanor charges included rioting, failing to disperse, obstructing and resisting arrest.

Lorain police also responded to Mercy Health Lorain Hospital for a 23-year-old Lorain man with multiple stab wounds connected to the fight.

The victim was belligerent yelling and berating the nursing staff who were attempting to treat stab wounds to his upper right tricep and right middle back, the release said.

But he refused and cursed at staff, refusing to allow them to check his injuries or the possibility of internal bleeding.

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The report said officers observed well over 200 people in front of the building, on both Washington Avenue and on West Erie Avenue.