Imagine a night out in Cincinnati turning into a brutal street fight, only to find yourself labeled both victim and villain by the very system meant to protect you. That’s the reality for Alex Tchervinski, a 45-year-old man caught in a violent clash that has ignited a firestorm of debate over fairness and political meddling.
According to Fox News, in the early hours of July 26, 2025, a chaotic brawl erupted outside LoVe nightclub at West Fourth and Elm Streets in downtown Cincinnati, leaving six injured, eight arrested, and a community wrestling with questions of justice amid viral footage and racial tensions.
It started with a bystander video capturing a White man striking a Black man in a red shirt, a spark that exploded into full-blown mayhem. Racial slurs echoed through the chaos, as shown in the footage, painting a grim picture of the night’s descent into violence.
Among the injured was Alex Tchervinski, initially seen as a victim after allegedly being hit 28 times in the head and robbed while defending his girlfriend and a friend. Exclusive photos obtained by Fox News Channel reveal the extent of his facial and head injuries from that night. Yet, in a twist that raised eyebrows, Tchervinski now faces a disorderly conduct charge as the eighth person arrested.
“What this has done it has made Alex a victim now for the second time by bringing criminal charges against him,” said Douglas Brannon, Tchervinski’s lawyer, in a statement to Fox News. Let’s unpack that—how does a man pummeled nearly 30 times end up in handcuffs while trying to protect loved ones? It’s the kind of question that fuels distrust in a system already under scrutiny.
Brannon further noted, “What occurred is Alex was hit multiple times, before he slapped back in an attempt to try and defend himself and back off this group of thugs.” If true, this paints a picture of self-defense, not aggression, making the disorderly conduct charge feel like a jab at common sense rather than justice.
Before Tchervinski’s arrest, seven other suspects—all Black—were taken into custody, facing far graver accusations. Patrick Rosemond, Jermaine Matthews, Montianez Merriweather, DeKyra Vernon, Dominique Kittle, and Aisha Devaughn each face multiple counts of felonious assault, assault, and aggravated rioting, per the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office. Gregory Wright, with a prior record for heroin trafficking, was charged with aggravated rioting and robbery for allegedly stealing a chain from a downed victim.
Wright’s bond was recently cut in half by an Ohio judge, dropping from $100,000 to $50,000, with just 10% needed for release. For a man accused of preying on the vulnerable mid-brawl, this leniency raises questions about whether the scales of justice are tipping too lightly on one side.
Body camera footage shows Cincinnati police responding to a single 911 call after the melee, a lone cry for help in a night of pandemonium. It’s a stark reminder of how quickly a night out can spiral into a nightmare—and how slowly the system sometimes reacts.
The Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police isn’t mincing words, with President Ken Kober blasting city officials for what he calls blatant political interference. “City Solicitor [Emily] Woerner and the Pureval administration’s blatant political meddling is the most egregious I’ve witnessed in my career,” Kober told Fox News Digital. When law enforcement feels sidelined for political points, it’s no surprise public trust takes a hit.
Mayor Aftab Pureval, however, sees it differently, stating, “We have been clear about the fact that anyone involved in perpetrating violence should be held accountable,” according to WLWT. Accountability sounds noble, but when a bruised victim like Tchervinski faces charges, one wonders if the mayor’s definition of “violence” stretches too far.
Ohio State Rep. Cecil Thomas weighed in with frustration, saying, “The charge of Disorderly Conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, is a slap in the face to the Black Community. This only inflames the community even more.” While his call for equal charges across the board has merit, dropping serious counts like aggravated rioting risks letting real violence slide under the guise of cooling tensions.
David Whitehead, president of Cincinnati’s NAACP chapter, also questioned the fairness of the charges, noting, “Street altercations typically result in disorderly conduct charges and at least five defendants are being charged beyond that,” per WLWT. It’s a fair point—why the disparity in severity when the brawl’s chaos implicates all? Consistency, not selective outrage, should guide the courts.
As Tchervinski prepares for his court date on August 26, 2025, and the other seven suspects navigate their legal battles, Cincinnati remains a city on edge. Viral footage, racial undercurrents, and cries of political overreach have turned a street fight into a mirror reflecting deeper societal divides. The question lingers: Will justice be blind, or will it squint through a lens of agenda?
