Fight at Schuster Center event described as ‘first time ever’

DAYTON — A fight in the lobby of the Schuster Center during the Platinum Comedy Tour event Friday was described by venue officials as the “first time ever” such a melee has occurred in the center’s 15 year history.

"There's never been anything like this before,” said Diane Schoeffler-Warren, spokeswoman for the Victoria Theatre Association, which runs the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center on West Second Street.

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Video of the fight surfaced on social media and showed several people fighting in the venue’s Kettering Wintergarden, a six-story open air glass atrium.

The video appears to show, among other incidents, a person on the ground repeatedly punched by another person as some guests attempt to intervene. No police or security are immediately visible in the video of the fight, which appears to have lasted more than two minutes.

A Dayton police report indicated police responded to Good Samaritan North Hospital to meet with a victim from the assault about 16 hours after the incident was said to have occurred. The report did not indicate any suspects have been charged or arrested.

An ambulance was also called to Schuster Center on Friday, Schoeffler-Warren said.

Schoeffler-Warren said standard security was in place for the Friday night event, which included comedy acts from Mike Epps and others. She said standard security for Schuster Center events includes a private security firm as well as off-duty Dayton police officers being at the events.

The Victoria Theatre Association works with the security group Securitas, Schoeffler-Warren said.

Closed-circuit cameras are also installed at the Schuster Center.

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Additional security, if needed, is to be provided by the promoter of the event, Schoeffler-Warren added.

Friday’s event was brought to the Schuster Center by an outside promoter, Schoeffler-Warren said.

Dayton police have not responded to this newsroom’s requests for comment.

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