Downtown Springfield curfew will go into effect this evening

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Officials with the City of Springfield will be placing a curfew over parts of the downtown area starting at 6 p.m. this evening.

The decision follows property damage and confrontations with law enforcement that occurred in downtown Springfield last night. The curfew will cover several blocks and last to 6 a.m. It will be in effect until Wednesday.

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The area that will be affected will be between East North Street, Center Street, West Jefferson Street and Spring Street.

City officials said during a news conference this afternoon that the curfew is designed to protect the community as well as members of local law enforcement. They added that those who violate it will face arrest if they chose not to leave the area after being warned by law enforcement.

Community leaders showed support and praised a peaceful demonstration that occurred yesterday afternoon.

Property damage occurred last night after police dispersed a group of people who were gathered near the Clark County Common Pleas Court. Several businesses as well as City Hall had windows broken.

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Springfield Police Chief Lee Graf said that at this time it looked like the majority of the vandals were young, white males. He said he believed some of these individuals had come downtown with the intention of breaking things.

It is unclear what the total property damage will costs the city at this point, City Manager Bryan Heck added.