Police called to kid’s birthday party with misbehaving adults

A child’s birthday party at a family event center in Fayetteville turned into an adult altercation in the parking lot after the party ended. A primary aggressor could not be determined and no one was charged.

Fayetteville Police Department spokesperson Ann Marie Burdett said the E-911 center on Aug. 1 at approximately 5:14 p.m. advised police that a caller reported people arguing in the parking lot at Chuck E. Cheese on North Glynn Street, and that the subjects were armed.

“The police arrived on the scene and encountered a large, chaotic crowd of people running and pacing throughout the parking lot of Chuck E. Cheese,” Burdett said, noting that an unidentified female yelled for the police to stop an SUV that was attempting to leave the area. “The officer stopped the SUV and directed the occupants, who were identified as the parents of the biological father of the child for whom the birthday was for, to remain on the scene for further investigation.”

Burdett noted that the officer visually checked the area and did not observe anyone with guns.

“The officer learned through witness statements that the alleged physical altercation was between the biological father and stepfather of the child for whom the birthday party was being held,” Burdett said.

Burdett said police met with the stepfather and obtained his account of what occurred. The biological father left the area before police could get his version of what happened. Multiple attempts were made to contact him by telephone, which were all unsuccessful.

Additionally, “Police followed up on statements made by witnesses that the mother of the biological father had a Taser. The mother of the biological father vehemently denied that she had a Taser. Police suspected that if the mother displayed a Taser, an onlooker might have thought it was a gun and called it in to E-911 as someone has a gun,” said Burdett.

Burdett said police determined there was not enough physical evidence to determine the primary aggressor in the incident, adding that there was no video footage to support the statements made by either party involved in the incident.

“In addition, the original caller wished to remain anonymous and did not provide any contact information. There were also conflicting stories as to who the primary aggressor was in the incident. Therefore, no one was charged,” Burdett explained.

Burdett said witness statements were obtained and the stepfather was informed on how to obtain a criminal warrant on his behalf should he decide to obtain a warrant on his own.