A Kansas mother reported an incident during her toddler daughter's birthday celebration at Stearman Field Bar & Grill in Benton, Kansas, on August 28. Cassie Berrios alleged that the restaurant's owner approached her daughter, kissed her on the cheek, and blew out her birthday candle. Video footage obtained by KAKE shows the man, identified as an equity holder of the restaurant, putting his arm around the child and calling her beautiful before attempting to kiss her. Berrios stated that her daughter turned her head, resulting in the kiss landing on her cheek instead of her lips.
Following this, one of the adults at the table wiped the child's cheek, and Berrios confronted the man, asking him not to kiss other people's children. According to Berrios, the man allegedly tried to touch her daughter again but was blocked. He reportedly responded with vulgar language before leaving the restaurant with a witness.
No arrests have been made, but police are investigating the incident after receiving reports of battery on a child. Berrios accused the man of being drunk, although restaurant staff claimed he had not consumed much alcohol. She expressed concern about the man's behavior and the restaurant's response, stating that staff seemed unperturbed by the incident.
The restaurant confirmed the man's role as an equity owner and stated that customer safety is a priority. They are taking measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, emphasizing that the actions of one individual do not reflect the values of their staff. The man is believed to own A&M Management Group, which operates several restaurants in the Wichita area. Stearman Field Bar & Grill is located at the north end of the runway at Stearman Field Airport, approximately 20 miles northeast of Wichita.