Audio clips and photographs taken by police officers at the scene of a brawl involving the family of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin were released Tuesday by the Anchorage Police Department.
The Sept. 6 melee was initially reported by police as a fight involving around 20 people at a South Anchorage home. Homeowner Korey Klingenmeyer was hosting a birthday party for his son and twin brothers Marc and Matthew McKenna. Palin's husband, Todd, a friend of the McKennas, was also celebrating his 50th birthday.
According to witnesses, the Palin family arrived at Klingenmeyer's home in a Hummer limousine and were involved in the brawls that took place later that evening.
At least two fights took place, according to witness statements -- one in the street in front of the home involving Todd Palin and son Track, and another behind the home, where multiple witnesses said they watched daughter Bristol Palin punch Klingenmeyer repeatedly in the face.
Detailed events of the evening were outlined in a police report released Oct. 9. The audio clips released Tuesday mirror the police report, offering sometimes-conflicting witness statements.
Photos: Check out police photos from fight involving Palin family
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No charges were filed in the case, although Klingenmeyer mentions several times during the audio clips that he was considering filing charges.
The clips can be heard in their entirety below:
Warning: These audio segments contain numerous expletives. NSFW
911 call:
A neighbor reports the fight to a 911 dispatcher, telling police that 10 to 20 people were involved in front of his house. "They've had a big party down at the corner and now we've got people out fighting and cursing and really, it needs to stop," the man says.
Police interview the Palin family and Matthew McKenna
Members of the Palin family describe their version of events in a tense interview with police. Highly agitated, daughter Willow Palin tells police that she was pushed by an older woman and says homeowner Klingenmeyer punched her sister, Bristol. Klingenmeyer was calling her sister expletives, Willow tells police. Palin says her sister was "mentally hurt" after the fight.
Through sobs, Bristol Palin, described as "heavily intoxicated" in the police report, tells police she was pushed to the ground and dragged across the grass while Klingenmeyer called her names. "They took my $300 sunglasses, they took my f**king shoes and I'm f**king just left here?"
The officer asks where she's injured. "My f**king knees, my face, where's my sh*t? I have a 5-year-old in the car," she replies.
Steve Lebida, identified in the police report as being involved in the fight on the sidewalk in front of the home, is interviewed as he leaves the party. "I think I tripped and fell," he initially tells police, but later says he was beat up. His driver says she is taking him to the hospital, and police allow him to leave.
After police interviewseveral other people who are leaving the party, the Palins begin arguing with the officer about why he allowed others to leave. Willow Palin tells the officer, "Seriously, (Bristol) got beat to the ground and you are just going to let him go away?"
At minute 15 of the audio clip, Matthew McKenna is interviewed about what happened and describes the fight involving Lebida, Todd Palin and himself before watching Bristol Palin punch Klingenmeyer in the face. McKenna summarized the evening as such: "The problem is, we're friends, and we have a lot of other friends that aren't friends, and sh*t got awry."
A standoff between Klingenmeyer and Todd Palin
The interview begins with witness Mike Tope saying he didn't know what happened and that he was "just the voice of reason … I'm just the diffusion guy." Several other party-goers, whose names are not noted, are interviewed afterward as they leave the party.
At minute 6:49, homeowner Klingenmeyer recounts his version of events: A fight broke out in the front of the house, after which Klingenmeyer was approached by Bristol Palin, looking to start a fight with another woman. When Klingenmeyer stopped her, Palin hit him in the face, he tells police.
Matthew McKenna is interviewed after Klingenmeyer, explaining that the fight involving Todd and Track Palin was fueled by alcohol. "(Steve Lebida) was mouthing off to another drunk guy," McKenna said.
At 20:21, Todd Palin interjects and confronts Klingenmeyer. "Did you call Bristol a slut, or what's up man?" Todd Palin says.
"Todd, really?" Klingenmeyer replies.
Klingenmeyer tells Palin, "You need to go on another reality show."
As the situation escalates, an officer says, "Let's break this up." In the background, others tell Track Palin to back off and stay out of the confrontation.
Witness Kyle Dubie is interviewed briefly toward the end, reiterating that Bristol Palin hit Klingenmeyer in the face.
A brief interview with Marc McKenna
Marc McKenna, one of the twin brothers for whom the birthday party was being thrown, is briefly interviewed by police. McKenna, a former Iron Dog champion, says Todd Palin is a good friend of his. Palin is also an Iron Dog champion.
"The night goes on, drinks happen, (the Palins') kids are drunk and they got intermixed with some of my employees, and I think all hell broke loose," he said of the incident.
McKenna tells police he was inside the house and didn't see what happened.
Possible video? And witness Eric Thompson
Willow Palin can be heard reiterating that Klingenmeyer was calling her sister expletives and says that Bristol never landed a punch on Klingenmeyer.
At the mention of a possible video of the event, an unidentified man tells police, "These are friends of mine and (the video) ain't going out to anybody. The video don't exist."
"I don't have to owe you video because you're a cop," the man says.
Witness Eric Thompson, who came forward with the account before the police report was released, gives his account of what he saw, saying he watched Bristol Palin punch Klingenmeyer in the face.
An interview with Todd and Track Palin
A chaotic scene unfolds in which a child can be heard crying and the Palin family is heard yelling in the background.
A police officer speaks with Track and Todd Palin, who give a convoluted version of events. Track Palin believes they are in Eagle River at a party that was "kosher" until some men started insulting his sister.
Todd Palin said a "father-and-son team" came down from the house and "cold-clocked" their friend Steve Lebida. "When that happened it just escalated," Palin said.
Witness Brian Horschel tells police that he didn't see the fights but that Track Palin was picking a fight with Todd inside the house before the altercation began.
At 27:39, Bristol Palin repeats that she was dragged across the ground. When asked about hitting Klingenmeyer, she tells the officer, "I have no clue if I hit him or not."
"I have no clue," she repeats.
Track Palin interview, angry Klingenmeyer
The interview with Track Palin continues briefly. He asks if the officer saw his swollen eye. The officer replies, "Yeah I took pictures of it, remember?"
Police take photos of Track's necklace, which had fallen off during the course of the fight. Several people yell Track Palin's name in the background.
A highly agitated Korey Klingenmeyer approaches and asks police to take control of the scene. "These Palins running up here on my property acting like they own it is not gonna fly with me. … I don't give a f*ck if their name's Palin or f*cking Obama, cause they don't mean sh*t to me," he says.
Witnesses describe Bristol Palin's punches
Klingenmeyer is interviewed by police. He says he believes one woman has video of the event.
Two witnesses, Elena McKenna and Ronald Tharaldson, tell police that Bristol Palin hit Klingenmeyer in the face repeatedly. Tharaldson describes Track Palin "yelling and screaming and flipping people off."
Witness Elena McKenna tells police "Bristol came up and started just punching Korey. ... Willow came up and then they were trying to get everyone and another fight started at the bottom of the driveway again."
Two witnesses not identified on the audio also give their accounts, describing one of the brawls as a "man pile."
Klingenmeyer short interview
In this short interview, police take photos of Klingenmeyer, who says the night is "a bunch of drama bullsh*t that I don't need in my life."He asks what he needs to do to press charges. Someone jokes with him, asking if he needs ice after being beat up by Bristol Palin.