Columbus targeting certain neighborhoods to crack down on crime

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Columbus leaders are cracking down on crime in the Hilltop.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced the results of the latest Clean and Safe Corridor Initiative on Monday. The initiative takes city resources and focuses them on a certain area, beyond the general services from Columbus. This is a more concentrated approach to really hone in on issues reported by the community.

"We want children, seniors, families to feel safe in these corridors. And that's what this is all about," Ginther said.

Over the last two weeks, city resources have focused on Sullivant Avenue in the Hilltop neighborhood.

"This is a very much focused approach where we have all hands on deck for a set period of time, but what we're going to follow up on this with is investing more in neighborhood and community groups that can kind of keep our momentum going," Ginther said.

City services picked up almost 18 tons of litter, patched potholes, and refreshed crosswalks. In the first week of the initiative, Columbus police recovered nine firearms, impounded 26 cars, worked 66 331 complaints, and conducted dozens of arrests.

"They went out and made a lot of traffic stops, made a lot of arrests on-view and on warrants, and we were able to get some dangerous people off the roads," Columbus Division of Police Deputy Chief Robert Sagle said.

Drugs were taken off the street. including some that police described as fentanyl related. Now, the Clean and Safe Corridor initiative will expand with the next focus on the Driving Park area and the Short North.

"These initiatives just show when we work together how much can be accomplished," Sagle said.

The city said the services provided during this time are valued at $142,000 for labor, materials and equipment.

The full list of what the city said was accomplished can be found below:

Safety

April 30 Zone 3 Operation Unity Results

• 69 on-view arrests, meaning arrests made by police officers who personally observed a crime being committed. Of the arrests, 41 were on-view felony arrests and 28 were on-view misdemeanor arrests.
• 40 wanted person arrests
• Six arrests for engaging in prostitution
• Two stolen vehicles recovered
• Four firearms recovered
• 9.6g Methamphetamine, 3.6g Cocaine, 40g Crack Cocaine and 28g Marijuana recovered
• Four search warrants executed
• One Nuisance Abatement Group inspection
• 42 vehicles impounded
• 108 traffic citations issued
• 87 parking citations
• 38 311 complaints worked
• 146 crime prevention citizen contacts

April 21 – April 27 Sullivant Avenue commercial corridor law enforcement activities

• 21 on-view felony arrests
• 24 on-view misdemeanor arrests
• 40 wanted person arrests
• Three soliciting arrests
• Seven stolen vehicles recovered
• Nine firearms recovered
• 1.1g Methamphetamine, 151.47g Cocaine, 4.62g Crack Cocaine and 1,882.07g Marijuana recovered
• One search warrant executed
• 15 Nuisance Abatement Group inspection
• 26 vehicles impounded
• 43 traffic citations issued
• 90 parking citations
• 66 311 complaints worked
• 84 crime prevention citizen contacts

April 28 – May 4 Sullivant Avenue commercial corridor law enforcement data will be available on May 7

Cleanliness and Beautification

• 17.82 tons of litter and bulk refuse, 1.4 tons of trash and 14 tires collected
• 73.5 man-hours of pothole patching
• 79.5 man-hours of ADA ramp cleaning
• 50 ground-mounted and overhead signs replaced
• All eight intersections along the corridor had crosswalks, stop bars and lane control arrows refreshed
• 19 trees planted, 141 trees pruned, 3 dying and damaged trees removed, 785 feet of brush cut back and one tree grate leveled

Property Inspections

• 327 building inspections
• 55 friendly code enforcement letters issued, informing building owners how they may bring their properties up to code compliance
• 5 buildings referred for graffiti removal by the city

Small Business Support

• 47 businesses canvassed by the Office of Violence Prevention and Columbus Public Health to understand safety perceptions and concerns
• Four days of office hours held at the Columbus Metropolitan Library Hilltop branch to consult with small business owners and share funding and support resources available