A fight broke out early Sunday morning at IHOP on Parkway Place, resulting in numerous injuries and property damage.

The Oconee County Sheriff's deputy who arrived first at the chaotic scene around 3 a.m. says employees, customers, complainants, victims, witnesses and suspects all came rushing toward him in the parking lot.  According to an incident report, the deputy immediately called for backup.  

"Several of the suspects came toward me acting violent, making threats, yelling profanities and racial slurs toward me and IHOP employees," he wrote in the report.  The deputy displayed his handgun "by unholstering at a low ready position in my right hand" but, he says, one suspect continued to be combative, so he pointed a Taser at the suspect.

Additional Oconee County Sheriff's deputies arrived, along with Georgia State Patrol troopers and Athens-Clarke County Police.   National EMS began to treat injured participants.

According to witness accounts and surveillance video footage, one group of customers began to insult another group, who were wearing cowboy hats.  The argument then escalated into pushing, hitting, and the throwing of furniture.

Four suspects were identified and released to seek further medical treatment.  The deputy noted in the report he planned to obtain warrants for their arrest.

The manager of IHOP told deputies the restaurant sustained over $1,000 worth of damage, including two broken chairs and shattered glassware.

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