Brawls erupt outside birthday party

? A police officer lost a tooth during a row at a quinceanera party.

Such parties traditionally are held in Latin American communities to mark a girl’s 15th birthday.

Police said Barton County Sheriffs deputies, who had been hired to provide security, called them for help around 1:30 a.m. Sunday after several fights broke out in a parking lot filled with about 200 partygoers.

Officers were arresting a young man accused of pushing two officers when the suspect head-butted officer Cory Haulmark, knocking out one of his teeth. Haulmark received five stitches, and his tooth was replaced Monday.

The suspect was taken to juvenile intake, along with another young man suspected of battery of a law enforcement officer and consumption of alcohol. An adult also was arrested for disorderly conduct and two counts of battery of a law enforcement officer.