Police are investigating an incident at Stearman Field Bar & Grill in Benton, Kansas, where the establishment's equity holder allegedly kissed a 2-year-old girl and blew out her birthday candle.
The event took place on August 28 during the child's birthday celebration. According to the child's mother, Cassie Berrios, the man approached her daughter as she was about to blow out her birthday candle. Video footage reportedly shows the man putting his arm around the toddler, calling her beautiful, and attempting to kiss her lips. The mother stated that her daughter turned her head, resulting in the kiss landing on her cheek.
Following the alleged kiss, the man then blew out the child's birthday candle. Berrios reported confronting the man, telling him not to kiss other people's children. She claimed he responded by telling her to "go F--k myself" and attempted to touch the child again before she blocked him.
The restaurant confirmed the individual involved was an "equity owner" and stated they are taking steps to prevent similar conduct in the future. They emphasized that the actions of one individual do not reflect the hospitality of their approximately 400 employees. The man is believed to own A&M Management Group, which operates multiple restaurants in the Wichita area.
No arrests have been made, but authorities have opened an investigation into a reported battery on a child. The mother accused the man of being intoxicated, though staff reportedly indicated he had not consumed excessive alcohol at the establishment.