2 police officers, 2 patrons hurt in fracas at Mamma DiSalvo’s restaurant

UPDATE @ 12:47 a.m. (Feb. 29): A 24-year-old man arrested in the fracas at Mamma DiSalvo's remains in the Montgomery County Jail pending the filing of a formal charge.

Justin Anthony Sawitke is being detained pending the filing of a felonious assault charge out of Kettering Municipal Court. There also is a domestic violence charge filed against him in another case awaiting court action, according to online jail records.

UPDATE @ 9:41 p.m. (Feb. 28): 

A reported domestic disturbance at Mamma DiSalvo's restaurant grew into a fracas involving a patron and police officers that ended with two of the officers and at least two customers injured.

Several Kettering police officers tackled, Tased and finally subdued the man and took him to the city jail. He'll be held there, pending the filing of several charges including felonious assault, an officer on scene said.

Police believe the man was intoxicated on alcohol and/or drugs, the officer on scene said.

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The injuries to the two police officers were believed to be minor. The customers who were injured included an adult and a child. There was no word about the extent of their injuries.

One of the patrons who saw the fracas said the incident left everyone in the restaurant on East Stroop Road in Kettering upset.

"All of a sudden, this guy came busting in. Police were following him and tackled him," said the patron, Steve Vaughn, of Xenia. He was seated with eight people at a round table when the bedlam began.

"Some of the people at our table got knocked over," Vaughn said. "He got up and police Tased him."

Vaughn said that according to patrons, the man was at the bar with his girlfriend when he left to go to the restroom. She told the bartender the man was being aggressive with her.

Workers called police and when they showed up, the man, who had come out of the bathroom, at first retreated toward the back of the restaurant and then charged at the officers, knocking over tables and people.

"People were screaming, very upset," Vaughn said. "We didn't know if he had a gun."

INITIAL REPORT

Several police officers and a number of medic units have been sent to Mamma DiSalvo's, 1375 E. Stroop Road, Kettering for what is being described as a disturbance.

There are several injuries being reported, according to police and fire radio communications. The incident occurred about 8 p.m.

We have a crew on the way and we will update this developing report as we learn more.