Four patrons were arrested at Wando’s Bar early Sunday morning when a fight broke out after an individual was asked to leave the bar.

Madison Police Department responded to the incident reported at the bar located at 602 University Ave., where a 34-year-old male bouncer became the target of aggression, according to a MPD statement.

According to MPD spokesperson Joel DeSpain, the incident began when an individual was asked to leave the premises after falling off a barstool. The incident escalated after suspects pushed a recycling bin full of emptied glass bottles down a flight of stairs, which hit the bouncer, he said.

DeSpain said shortly after this, another female patron used a broomstick found on the scene to attack the victim. As the fight came to a close, the bouncer restraining one of the male suspects was hit continuously in the face, while threatening to be shot, he added.

According to the statement, four suspects were arrested when police arrived. The statement said the suspects ranged from ages 22 to 28. The suspects were arrested on counts of Disorderly Conduct, including two who were additionally charged with Battery, according to the statement.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said instances like this case are very unusual downtown. Patrons grabbing items in the bar to fight with bar staff is a rarity, he added.

According to the statement, the instigator of the fight claimed to have been out celebrating the birth of his daughter. 

The incident was largely confined to the individuals that started the fight and the Wando’s staff directly involved, according to the statement.

Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said the bartender and people at Wando’s responded appropriately and police were close by to keep the situation under control.

Verveer and Resnick both said they do not think this incident will have a negative effect on Wando’s reputation.

“Wando’s is not notorious for bar fights, so this is fairly unusual for Wando’s to have a full scale fight,” Verveer said. “Typically, they are known for being a pretty strict bar when it comes to everything from carding minors to allowing intoxicated persons to be served.”

Overall, this is uncharacteristic of Wando’s, Verveer added.

Verveer said the fact that one of the arrested persons said they were celebrating their daughter’s birthday by going out drinking downtown is “perverse.”

He said it was lucky the incident happened at Wando’s because they have an excellent security staff, and there are police officers standing in front of Wando’s because the 600 block of University Avenue has been such a “hot spot” for crime.

Although downtown has seen a few of these isolated incidences, Resnick said he believes this should not deter students from going out. Resnick added the situation at Wando’s did not involve any UW student so there is no undue cause for concern.

Both Verveer and Resnick stressed there are police nearby establishments like Wando’s in order to keep Madison a safe community.