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Over $1 million in estimated damages from downtown Columbus protests

Columbus police estimate just in the first four days of protests, there was more than $1.2 million in damage to businesses.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Streets in downtown Columbus filled with protesters after George Floyd's death in Minneapolis.

While many shouted for change, others took bricks to windows.

There was about $300,000 worth of damage to the Sheraton downtown on May 29th.

“The damage that was done is very extensive, so we want to be able to try and hold those people accountable for the damage they did,” said Columbus Police Sergeant Shaun Laird.

While most of the protests have ended, Columbus Police officers' job is just beginning, trying to identify who looted and vandalized dozens of downtown and Short North businesses.

“That's our aim. No one on the police department has a problem with people protesting peacefully, but that's not what these degenerated into,” said Columbus Police Sergeant Keith Kline.

Columbus police estimate just in the first four days of protests, there was more than $1.2 million in damage to businesses.

“We are going through any kind of videos and any information we can get to try and hold those people accountable especially when you look at this type of dollar loss,” Laird explained.

“We have businesses that are going out of business that will never come back to the downtown. We have people whose jobs are not going to be there anymore,” Kline said.

This is why Columbus police say they will pour over hours of surveillance video and videos posted to social media to identify as many vandals and looters as they can.

“The people who are doing the damage should be held to account,” Kline said.

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