CINCINNATI — A tense situation unfolded Wednesday at Cincinnati City Hall after a woman attempted to bring a sword into the council chambers.
The incident happened Wednesday afternoon during the public comment portion of a Cincinnati City Council meeting, sparking concern inside the building.
Police said the suspect had concealed the sword inside a cane and managed to get past City Hall security. Councilmembers later said the sword was never pulled from the cane, but they were alarmed that it made it through security screening.
According to Cincinnati Police, 29-year-old Alexandra Dalton was arrested and charged with resisting arrest, inducing panic, carrying concealed weapons and interrupting a lawful meeting.
“So your officers just took my cane,” Dalton said into the microphone during public comment moments before officers arrested her.
Police said Dalton misled security officers by claiming the cane was needed for a disability while hiding the sword inside it.
“They attempted to ask her to step out, to make sure that they cleared the chambers, if she had a weapon. It didn’t appear it went the way in which she was willing to step out, and i saw the police try to effect an arrest,” councilmember Scotty Johnson said.
Police said everyone inside the building remained safe, and officers escorted the suspect out of the building.
Mayor Aftab Pureval called for a recess, and once the meeting resumed, he addressed what had happened inside.
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