Denver police said Thursday that there have been four assaults this month on the 16th Street Mall, but unlike a series of assaults last year, these do not appear to be racially motivated.
Six of the suspects arrested are black, and one is white. At least four victims were white, and at least one was black.
One of the victims, Torrence McCall, who was stabbed on the mall at California Street about 6:30 p.m. May 8, was himself arrested when he confessed to being one of the attackers in an incident in August on Market Street. His probation forbid him from hanging out downtown, Denver police Lt. Matt Murray said.
Murray said Thursday’s announcement should serve as a reminder for people downtown at night to be careful, even though statistically the area is no more dangerous than many other places in the city.
“We want people to take precautions, be aware of their surroundings, and if they’re out drinking, they should travel with a group — common-sense things,” he said.
He said police have stepped up enforcement, including the use of cameras and other technology. That led to quicker arrests than last year, when 34 people were arrested in November in 26 attacks over four months. Many of those cases were characterized as racially motivated by black gang members on white and Latino victims.
In addition to McCall, whose stabbing has not been solved, three other victims were assaulted and threatened with a pistol May 8. That assault happened about 11:30 p.m. on 16th Street between Welton and California streets.
Police arrested William Johnson, 23, Jeremy Lewis, 18, Kenneth Smith, 33, and Leann Wyrick, 19, who face menacing and assault charges. Johnson also was charged with drug possession.
On May 15, a man in a gray hooded sweat shirt approached another man about 11 p.m. on the mall at Stout Street and hit him several times, apparently without provocation. That case is not solved.
About 1:20 a.m. last Friday, also on 16th Street between Welton and California streets, police responded to a call about a fight and Wednesday picked up James Cook, 18, Cory Kneubehl, 20, and Christopher Reed, 21.
