Jennifer Edwards Baker

The Cincinnati Enquirer

CINCINNATI -- Police are looking for a 33-year-old man suspected of starting a fight at a kindergarten graduation on Monday that led to a brawl during a punch-and-cookies reception for the children.

Raymond Walker is charged with assault and inducing panic in the 11:30 a.m. disturbance at Mt. Healthy North Elementary School in Springfield Township, court records show.

The dispute eventually involved up to 20 others at a reception in the school cafeteria after the 150 kindergartners graduated.

"The assault did induce panic during the assembly, causing several in attendance to be pushed," Springfield Township police wrote in a sworn statement filed in Hamilton County Municipal Court. "The school was placed on lockdown and then eventually evacuated."

"It's unusual," said Springfield Township Police Lt. Brian Uhl. "These things typically don't break out at kindergarten graduations, but obviously there was some issue between the two. It's just unfortunate it had to take place there."

Walker is accused of starting a fight with a man he knew from his neighborhood, Dominique Garrett, and injuring him, according to police.

Lori Handler, superintendent of Mt. Healthy schools, said both men were thrown out by school officials just before police arrived. No one was hurt except for the man Walker allegedly attacked.

"It was very unnerving for my 5-year-olds to witness something like that," Handler said. "It's so sad that adults can't control themselves in a joyous situation."

Walker has had other trouble with the law. He served nine months in prison for attempting to escape police and was released in June 2004, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

In the April 2003 incident, his car ran a stop sign and hit a tree, seriously injuring his female passenger, court records show.