A birthday party donnybrook that has come to be known locally and beyond as the “Palin family brawl” has been ruled a no contest.
The municipal prosecutor’s office announced without comment on Thursday that it would not press charges in a fist-flinging altercation involving former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin and her family at a party there on Sept. 6. The announcement was made in conjunction with the Anchorage Police Department releasing witness statements from the episode.
All of the accounts are in agreement that Sarah Palin, her husband, Todd, and three of their older children — Track, 25, Bristol, 23, and Willow, 20 — showed up in a stretch Hummer limousine for a 40th birthday party for twin brothers Matt and Marc McKenna, held at the home of Korey Klingenmeyer, the office manager for a company the McKennas own. Most of the party took place outside, with dancing and a live band.
However, things got out of hand, and that is where the witness statements diverge.
Five police officers compiled a 26-page report after interviewing more than 15 witnesses — including the Palin children in attendance — and most of the accounts (except for those given by the Palins) say Bristol Palin had repeatedly punched Klingenmeyer in the face.
The Palins lay the blame for the fighting on others. Some of the witnesses, including the host, say the Palins, particularly Bristol, were the instigators of several fights that broke out, all of which involved members of the Palin family.
Officer Benjamin Nelson said in his report that when he arrived at the home, he found Sarah and Todd Palin arguing with other partygoers. He said he also witnessed Todd, Track and Willow confronting Klingenmeyer in his driveway, and that officers had to separate the parties.
Track Palin was described by an officer as heavily intoxicated and belligerent, and was shirtless and had “blood around his mouth and on his hands.”
Track Palin said in his statement that some men were “talking rudely” to Bristol and Willow, and that one of his friends was punched.
According to Todd Palin’s account, that is when “everything escalated and it was a situation they couldn’t walk away from.”
It ended up in a mass fight on the front lawn after a group of men “piled on” Todd Palin, one witness said.
After that fight broke up, another fight began that involved Bristol, who the police report describes as “heavily intoxicated and upset.” According to Klingenmeyer, and numerous other accounts, Bristol and Willow headed toward a woman with the intent of beating her up. (Bristol said in her statement that the woman had hit Willow.)
Klingenmeyer told the police that when he asked Bristol to leave, she cursed at him and threatened to beat him up, too.
“He says then that she hits him in the face. He says he then tells her to hit him again if it makes her feel better and she does. He says he lets her hit him five, six times in the face and that she was hitting pretty hard. After about the sixth punch, he grabbed her fist as she punched again and he pushed back and she falls down. He says she gets up and tries to punch him again and he grabs her fist again and pushes her away and she falls down again,” an officer wrote.
That again resulted in a large brawl, which witnesses said Track was at the center of.
Bristol Palin said she did not recall hitting Klingenmeyer, but reported that she was dragged by her feet and called names. Matthew McKenna told police that during the fight he picked Bristol up, carried her into the street and put her down.
Yet another fight happened after the Palins were told to leave.
The police showed up shortly thereafter.
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