Kid’s Birthday Party Turns Into Brawl

A large, beer-soaked melee broke out at a toddler’s birthday party early Tuesday in this small Hamilton County suburb, hospitalizing two men and prompting police from several agencies to respond.

“It was an unbelievable scene, the amount of blood and broken glass,” said Elmwood Place Police Chief William Peskin.

About 30 children witnessed the 1 a.m. brawl among 75 people at Elmwood Eagles Hall, 5633 Vine St.

{snip}

Punches and beer bottles were thrown after a dispute that began earlier Monday among two men–a woman’s boyfriend and her ex-husband–came to a head at the birthday party for a 3-year-old.

When police arrived, some 150 people were still gathered and about half of them were participating in the melee, Peskin said.

{snip}

More than 20 police officers from jurisdictions such as Cincinnati and St. Bernard swarmed the scene to restore order.

{snip}

A total of 15 people were injured, including five who went to University Hospital, Peskin said. Four people were treated for cuts that required stitches and then released. One man underwent eye surgery from a stab wound from a broken beer bottle, the chief said. Doctors are doing tests to check for possible brain damage.

{snip}

“The whole party was Hispanic, so we’re having language barriers and they are being very uncooperative,” Peskin said.

{snip}