Crime & Safety

Police: Broken Fudge-Shop Window Leads to Fight, Arrest

Officers cited a bouncer from Rafters bar after he chased and attacked a male who witnesses said had run from the vicinity of Barbara Ann's Fudge, according to a Stillwater Police report.

A theory of criminology says broken windows can eventually lead to violence in a neighborhood. But in Stillwater last week it was nearly instantaneous. Police say a bouncer from Rafters Food and Spirits chased down and fought with another male seen running from the area of a broken storefront window at Barbara Ann's Fudge Shoppe

According to Stillwater Police Department reports: 

It started shortly after 2 a.m. on Nov. 28, when someone flagged down a Stillwater officer on Water Street, saying that a male was beating up another male nearby.

The officer observed a male, later identified as a bouncer from Rafters, grabbing another male in the area of his throat and striking him in the head with his closed right fist. The officer did not see the male being hit fight back. 

About 10 people were gathered around, but whether they were trying to join the fight or break it up the officer couldn't tell. 

As the officer approached the bouncer appeared to be restraining the other male in a choke hold. The officer grabbed the bouncer by the arm and he let go. As the officer escorted the bouncer to his squad car—where he cuffed, cited and released him—the crowd dispersed, including the other male involved in the altercation. 

The bouncer told the officer that the incident had started when he saw the other male, unknown to him, running away from a broken window at the fudge shop toward the 200 block of Water Street. The bouncer said he didn't see the male break the window and was attempting to detain him. 

The bouncer tested negative for alcohol and said he'd had nothing to drink that evening. After citing the bouncer for disorderly conduct, the officer explained that "in a circumstance when he is attempting to detain someone ... to immediately call police and if he wishes to follow suspect on foot to give an update of a location and a description of the suspect. I advised [the bouncer] that he should not physically confront or assault any male that he is attempting to detain. 

In the meantime, another officer documented the damage at Barbara Ann's Fudge Shoppe. The officer spoke with a man who identified himself as the son of the property manager who said he had been drinking upstairs at Rafters bar when he heard the sound of breaking glass and saw a white male in a blue sweatshirt fleeing the scene with several Rafters staff chasing after him. 


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