The Mishawaka Police Department confirmed that officers responded to a fight during the City of Mishawaka and Mishawaka Parks Independence Day celebration at Central Park on Saturday, June 27.
According to the department’s official statement, an officer confronted several juveniles who appeared to be fighting while armed with firearms.
The officer quickly determined that the suspected weapons were actually water guns, though police noted the toys closely resembled real firearms at first glance. During the encounter, the officer drew his Taser but did not fire it.
Due to the ongoing festivities, officials decided to wait until after the fireworks concluded before removing everyone involved from the park.
Department Says Formal Report Is Coming
Mishawaka Police stated that a formal report on the incident will be filed once all available evidence has been collected. The department also acknowledged that several videos of the confrontation have been circulating on social media, and officials are now asking anyone with footage or photos from the scene to come forward.
Those with information can contact:
- Mishawaka Police Dispatch: 574-258-1678, press 1
- Mishawaka Police Detective Bureau: 574-258-1684
Community Reaction Mixed in Comments Section
The post drew a wide range of reactions from residents. Several commenters praised the department’s handling of the situation, while others raised questions about how the incident unfolded.
Jennifer Schriefer pushed back on the tone of the official statement, writing that the situation was more chaotic than described, saying kids were fighting everywhere and were out of control, and that police did what needed to be done.
Chelsea Valkyrie, who said she was near the scene when it happened, described a big panic among the crowd but said she was glad officers arrived quickly, given the size of the event.
I was walking by when this happened and there was a big panic. The police arrived quickly which I thought was great for an event of this magnitude
Roger Larson defended the department, criticizing what he called social media “detectives” spreading inaccurate information instead of parents supervising their own kids.
Susy Yelkovac Lenig thanked the responding officer directly, saying he assessed the situation correctly and kept everyone safe.
Donna Gosztola argued that since the toy guns looked real, they should have been treated as a serious threat, and commended police for their response.
This incident is totally unacceptable in our park or anywhere else ,these plastic gun looked real so they should be treated as real! The Mishawaka police department did a great job and I appreciate them so much!
David Clark pointed out that video from the scene showed the officer never actually fired his Taser.
Misty Bodle thanked the department for its dedication to keeping the community safe.
Well done MPD! Thank you for your help and dedication in keeping our community safe.
Not everyone was convinced police handled the identification cleanly. Edward Sutton commented that officers could not tell a water gun from a real one.
Erin Marie McNeil simply praised the department’s overall response to the situation.
What Happens Next
With multiple videos already public and more expected to be submitted, the Mishawaka Police Department’s investigation is likely to continue drawing attention.
The final report, once completed, is expected to clarify details that eyewitness accounts and social media clips have so far described inconsistently.
As of now, no injuries have been publicly confirmed, and no charges have been announced.
