Wedding Brawl in Ohio Leads to Arrests and Injuries

A longstanding feud between two families erupted at a wedding in Ohio, resulting in a chaotic brawl. The incident, which took place on August 21 at La Centre Banquet Facility in Westlake, led to injuries, a police response, and the arrest of three men. Officers from multiple departments were required to manage the scene.

According to FOX 8 in Cleveland, Ali Wahdan, 47, Raed Mahmoud Sulaiman, 46, and Abdallah Wahdan, 48, were taken into custody. Sulaiman, visiting from Dearborn Heights, Michigan, faced charges of assault, inducing panic, and tampering with evidence after allegedly brandishing a butter knife at guests and discarding it as police arrived. Ali Wahdan was accused of violating a temporary protection order, while Abdallah Wahdan faced aggravated menacing charges for allegedly threatening attendees.

Surveillance video captured the fight outside the venue, demonstrating how tensions between the families escalated during the wedding festivities.

Fox News Digital acquired 911 calls, body camera footage, and videos documenting the brawl, which started inside the banquet hall before spilling into the parking lot.

Inside the Chaos

The general manager of the venue contacted 911, stating, “There’s a fight at our venue,” describing the scene with people fighting both inside and outside. He mentioned that someone was bleeding and a man with a head injury was in the bathroom while the commotion continued. Body camera footage recorded guests interacting with police outside the venue, providing details about the fracas.

One 911 call revealed people shouting in the background, while a caller pleaded for police assistance, claiming he was attacked. “Somebody started beating me,” he said. Dashcam footage from that night showed an officer arriving to a packed parking lot filled with wedding attendees. As the situation grew, Westlake police called for backup from neighboring police departments.

Police Response

The responding officers moved through the crowd, attempting to separate groups as guests exited the hall. A wedding guest reported to police that his group was attacked while dancing, stating, “We were dancing, and four brothers jumped on us.” Cellphone footage inside the venue portrayed Sulaiman holding a butter knife while guests, including Sulaiman, were involved in a confrontation.

Officers worked to restore peace and called paramedics to care for any injuries. Police Captain Jerry Vogel reported that officers were aware of injuries but initially weren’t sure if weapons were involved. Investigators concluded that alcohol did not play a role; the fighting stemmed from enduring animosities between the families.

Ali Wahdan reportedly ignored a temporary protection order signed against him by some family members present. Captain Vogel explained that under legal obligation, Wahdan should have left the location upon encountering them.

Once order was restored, the wedding resumed without further disturbances. The charges against the three men were filed in Rocky River Municipal Court. Despite the turmoil, the wedding proceeded after the police established control.