(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Violent crime reduction operations carried out in Cleveland and Cincinnati on Wednesday night led to 10 felony arrests and the seizure of eight illegally possessed firearms, including one gun found in the possession of a 13-year-old.
The collaborative enforcement efforts were part of the state’s Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, which focuses on proactive measures to improve safety in communities across Ohio. By using advanced technology and intelligence sharing, the operations combine local, state, and federal resources to interrupt violent criminal activity before it affects residents.
“Every Ohioan has the right to live in a neighborhood where they feel safe and secure,” said Governor DeWine. “By removing illegal firearms from the hands of violent criminals, law enforcement isn’t just reacting to crime; they are preventing future tragedies.”
One example of the impact of Ohio’s law enforcement partnerships occurred during Wednesday night’s violent crime reduction operation in Cincinnati, where officers with the Cincinnati Police Department and troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol arrested a 40-year-old man for illegally possessing a firearm.
Around 11:35 p.m., CPD officers and OSHP troopers stopped a 2005 Buick LaCrosse after the driver committed a stop bar violation. When officers approached the vehicle, they noticed an open container of alcohol inside.
As officers questioned the driver, Orlando McSwain, 40, outside the vehicle, he fled on foot. During the pursuit, a trooper deployed a taser, but it did not stop McSwain. Officers later took him into custody without further incident.
VIDEO: Suspect Flees After Traffic Stop
McSwain later told law enforcement that he was illegally carrying a firearm and said it was inside the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and recovered the gun.
Authorities booked McSwain into the Hamilton County Justice Center on charges of obstructing official business, resisting arrest, carrying a concealed weapon, having weapons while under disability, and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle.
Image of illegally possessed firearm seized during traffic stop in Cincinnati.
During a separate violent crime reduction operation in Cleveland on Wednesday night, agents with the Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) arrested two people on felony charges and recovered two illegally possessed firearms.
In one incident, agents conducting surveillance near downtown Cleveland spotted an armed 13-year-old carrying a firearm while walking down the street. Agents approached the juvenile, took him into custody, and recovered the illegally possessed gun. Charges are pending through the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court.
“The Ohio Investigative Unit remains committed to supporting our local partners in reducing violent crime in their communities,” said Senior Enforcement Commander Greg Croft. “Through these multi-agency collaborations, we are working collectively to ensure a safer Ohio for everyone.”
Other suspects arrested during Wednesday night’s violent crime reduction operations in Cincinnati and Cleveland faced charges that included drug possession, drug trafficking, failure to comply, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest, obstructing official business, carrying a concealed weapon, having weapons while under disability, and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle.
Since the start of 2025, law enforcement agencies throughout Ohio have removed hundreds of illegal firearms and violent offenders from the streets through these coordinated violent crime reduction operations. By keeping a steady presence in participating communities, law enforcement partners continue to make public safety a priority for Ohioans across the state.
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