Six Stabbed at 1-Year-Old's Birthday Party
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Six people were stabbed early Sunday during a melee at a 1-year-old's birthday party, police said. It apparently started when a downstairs neighbor went upstairs to complain about the noise.

The injured were taken to Hartford and St. Francis hospitals, where they were treated for stab wounds to their faces and necks. All were later released.

Police said they received several 911 calls around 12:45 a.m. They arrived at a two-family home on Crosby Street to find dozens of people running around in a thunderstorm. Some were screaming and bleeding.

Most spoke only Spanish, adding to the chaos. A Spanish-speaking officer from Manchester was eventually brought into translate.

Four carloads of men showed up to join the fight and police said some may have been affiliated with a gang.

Sgt. Ed Perkins said that as he arrived he saw one person in the road beating another person with a chair.

Officers said they found a knife hidden under the child's birthday cake. No children or police officers were injured.

Eight people were arrested. Two were treated for injuries at the hospital and released.

Police detained so many people that they ran out of regular handcuffs. Then they ran out of temporary flexible restraining devices and had to call for more.

East Hartford's emergency management director found housing at local hotels for at least eight children and 12 adults displaced when the apartment became a crime scene. Police were interviewing witnesses to find out what sparked the brawl.