Bar fight ends with injuries, arrests

Violence mars Relays after-party downtown

A melee early Sunday at a downtown Lawrence nightclub left several Kansas Relays after-party revelers in the hospital or jail.

Around 1 a.m. Sunday, Lawrence Police, Douglas County Sheriff’s Officers, Kansas University Police and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical officials rushed to Abe & Jake’s Landing, Sixth and New Hampshire streets, because of a bar brawl that quickly spread out of control on the club’s dance floor.

Lawrence Police Sgt. Mark Warren said at the time that at least six people had been arrested because of the fight, and ambulances transported at least four victims to Lawrence Memorial Hospital with various injuries.

According to Douglas County Jail logs, Travis Bowman, 20, was booked into jail there just after 4 a.m. Sunday on disorderly conduct charges.

A Kansas City Kansas Community College sprinter named Travis Bowman participated in the Kansas Relays this year, placing seventh in the men’s 400 meter dash preliminary round.

Police could not confirm whether Bowman was arrested in connection with the brawl at the club, and other details about the incident weren’t available Sunday.

Mike Elwell, owner of Abe & Jake’s, said a Kansas Relays group booked the club for the night to throw a party after the Relays ended Saturday.

Elwell had heard about the incident but hadn’t spoken with his management staff to learn exactly what happened.

This is the fourth year the group has booked the club for the Relays after-party, Elwell said, and the night has been peaceful in the past.

“Up to this point, we’ve never had any issues,” he said.

Kansas Relays meet director Tim Weaver said he was aware the after-party exists, but had not heard about the fight Sunday.

“It’s nothing that’s affiliated with us,” Weaver said.