CLEVELAND, Ohio — A man police believe was high on PCP attacked a Cleveland City Councilman as he passed out food to the needy in the city’s Hough neighborhood.

Ward 7 Councilman Basheer Jones said the incident left him with some bruises, but that he used his jujitsu training to wrestle the man to the ground and hold him until police arrived.

“I love my community so much, I was kind of blinded to what could have happened,” Jones said. “I know the ills of the community and the ills of poverty and the ills of the coronavirus and I just wanted to help. So I’m just happy to be alive, because it could have turned out very bad.”

The 36-year-old man who attacked Jones taken to University Hospitals for treatment. Formal charges have not been filed.

The incident happened about 8 p.m. Thursday on East 79th Street and Superior, Jones said.

Jones said he was passing out food at the intersection, as he’s done each week during the coronavirus pandemic. He said the food comes from the Cleveland Food Bank. He passes out food, and delivers some to people’s homes, and he passes whatever food is left over at the intersection.

Jones said he typically notifies Cleveland police and has his own security in the area, but forgot to notify anyone.

“This time I wanted to hurry and get the food out,” he said.

Jones said he noticed the man chasing people down, banging on car windows and scaring women and children. He called Cleveland Police Third District Commander Dorothy Todd.

While he was on the phone, he told the man leave. The man charged at Jones and hit him several times. Jones said he somehow wrestled the man to the ground and that others nearby helped hold the man on the ground until police arrived.

Officers noted in a police report that the man was unable to speak coherently and that he smelled of PCP. Officers used “minimal” force in handcuffing him, the report says.

Jones, a member of the council’s safety committee, commended the police for their quick response.

Jones said he will not be deterred. He plans to finish passing out the rest of the food later on Friday.

“I’m a little bruised, but I’m okay,” Jones said. “I’m not unfamiliar with my neighborhood and the ills of it, so it won’t stop me from going back out there today, and finishing.”

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