A wedding reception at The 205 Venue in downtown Cleveland, Oklahoma spiraled into chaos on October 3 when a disturbance involving 40 to 50 people broke out inside the building, in the street, and behind it, according to police. Officers say several family members arrived already intoxicated, touching off an altercation that escalated quickly and left responding officers assaulted as they tried to separate the brawling crowd.
The Cleveland Police Department issued a Facebook update about the incident. As reported by KOKH, police said the disturbance began after several family members showed up intoxicated, based on preliminary information gathered at the scene.
Officers Assaulted
Multiple people were arrested on complaints that include assault and battery on a police officer, disturbing the peace, and resisting arrest, KOKH reports. The complaints also include destruction of property, KOKH reports.
Cleveland police said violence and disorderly conduct will not be tolerated in the community, and that assaulting officers who are protecting the public is a serious offense, per KOKH's reporting. Investigators submitted multiple requests for arrest warrants for individuals tied to the disturbance this week, the station notes.
Felony Stakes Under Oklahoma Law
The charges carry real weight under state statute. Oklahoma's Title 21 O.S. § 649 makes simple assault on a law enforcement officer a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $500 fine, but elevates battery or assault and battery against an officer to a felony carrying up to five years in state prison, according to Phillips & Associates. A private legal-defense website describes Title 21 O.S. § 650 as covering aggravated assault and battery upon law officers and discusses maiming separately, per the private legal-defense website.
A Disturbance at The 205 Venue
The 205 Event Venue in Cleveland was the site of the reception.
Part of a Wider Pattern of Wedding Brawls
Cleveland's wedding brawl follows a string of similar incidents at reception venues elsewhere in the country this year. In late August, a wedding reception at the La Centre Conference & Banquet Facility in Westlake, Ohio erupted into a fight that required officers from four police departments and ended in three arrests, as Hoodline previously reported.
