Kiefaber Street “block party” cleared by police, 2 arrested
Lucy Waskiewicz | News Editor
A heavy police presence arrested two males and cleared a large gathering that took place on the 400th block of Kiefaber Street in the University of Dayton’s south student neighborhood Sunday night.
Crowds of students and non-students began gathering on the street late Sunday evening for a recurring Labor Day “block party.”
According to a safety advisory issued by UD Public Safety Monday afternoon, officers from Public Safety and the City of Dayton responded to reports of fights breaking out in the crowd at 11 p.m. Sunday night.
They also investigated reports of a person armed with a gun. No one in possession was located and there were no reports of shots fired.
“Out of nowhere, everyone in the street started running away towards Lawnview [Avenue],” UD student Jonah Mergler said. “I didn’t know what was happening, but I figured since everyone was running it could be pretty bad, so I grabbed my friend and we left. Only later did I start hearing from people that a ‘gun’ was pulled. I had no idea if that was true, but I wasn’t going to stick around to find out.”
Police in riot gear barred the end of the street, calling for partiers to clear the road, yards and porches.
Around 1 a.m., a line of officers began moving down the street with steel barricades to clear it. Many were armed with pepperball guns. Students were instructed to stay inside.
“I was inside a house and the guys I was with wouldn’t let me leave until everything settled down,” said UD student Carina Albrecht. “It was 1:30 a.m. and my friend was walking home and cops flashed their lights at him and told him to get back in the house.”
Officers arrested one student and one non-student. The scene was cleared by 1:30 a.m. with no injuries reported.
The “block party” was promoted widely on a public social media account not affiliated with UD. These types of mass street gatherings, dubbed “day drinks” or “block parties,” historically attract a large number of non-students.
“Students are reminded that they are not to participate in any behavior that compromises the safety and security of the University community or the ability of the police and other authorities to maintain order, such as community disturbances where streets are blocked in disregard of police order,” the safety advisory said. “It is a violation of the University’s Code of Conduct to participate in community disturbance or send mass invitations to them.”
Public Safety issued an unrelated safety advisory Monday morning for an auto theft in a student parking lot behind Kiefaber Street, when the owner of a black Lincoln reported their car stolen at 4:00 a.m. The car has since been recovered by the Beavercreek Police Department and the Ohio State Patrol.