Cheektowaga, N.Y. (WBEN) - Police officials in Cheektowaga are investigating an incident on Monday night that saw multiple people being exposed to pepper spray at a local restaurant on Walden Avenue.
According to Cheektowaga Police, public safety dispatchers started receiving calls about an alleged fight at the Longhorn Steakhouse restaurant, located at 2015 Walden Avenue, at around 9 p.m. Initial reports were that around 15 people were fighting, and that someone was "pepper sprayed".
As officers were responding, the 9-1-1 caller indicated that children were subjected to the spray, including an infant. Multiple officers responded to the restaurant, but found no physical altercation when they arrived.
The initial investigation revealed that a verbal argument was ongoing between two adult women who were with two separate groups of people at the restaurant. It is unclear if they knew each other prior to this incident.
One of the groups was at the restaurant to celebrate a birthday and was seated in the restaurant at a table. The second group was gathered near the front door where the host generally stands. Multiple children were with both groups.
As the two women were arguing near the front vestibule, another adult woman from the birthday celebration exited her seat and walked towards the front of the restaurant. Without warning or physical provocation, the third woman sprayed a substance from a large can that appeared to be pepper spray or mace into the woman’s face who was arguing with her friend, also causing the noxious substance to get on everyone around her in the front vestibule.
A 1-year-old baby was subjected to the spray, which led to difficulty breathing and subsequent transportation to Oishei Children’s Hospital.
The adult woman who was the target of the attack was sent to St. Joes for cleanup and evaluation.
The suspect who produced and used the spray was gone prior to police arrival, and no person was willing to identify who she was.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.