A restaurateur in suburban Wichita, Kansas, is now being investigated by police after kissing a toddler and blowing out her birthday candle at one of his properties.
The Benton Police Department is investigating the incident as an alleged battery. They have not yet announced what charges, if any, will be brought.
On August 28, a Black family celebrated their daughter’s two-year birthday at Stearman Field Bar & Grill, a family-friendly airplane-themed spot in Benton, Kansas.
A server brought a special dessert for the toddler, an ice cream treat with a candle. But before she could make a wish and blow it out, an unknown white man came over to the table and kissed her on the cheek. He then blew out the candle himself.
A viral social media post captured the bizarre intrusion, showing the stunned mother wiping the kiss off her daughter’s cheek.
According to local news reports, the mother told police the man tried to touch her daughter a second time, but she intervened and stopped him. After a heated exchange, he left the restaurant.
Police later identified him as the owner of Stearman Airfield, though they did not release his name. He holds ownership stakes in several other restaurants in the Wichita metropolitan area, including Deano’s Grill & Tapworks, Oak & Pie, Deano’s on Pier 37, and Morgan’s Steakhouse.
🚨 STRANGER KISSED A 2-YEAR-OLD: Police in Kansas are investigating after a white man walked up during a birthday and kissed the toddler and blew out her birthday candle.
Stearman Field Bar & Grill. Benton, Kansas.
Server brought ice cream with a candle. A man leaned in,… pic.twitter.com/THeIUvRvyA
— i Expose Violent Criminals (@SeeRacists) September 2, 2026
‘Unfortunate Issue’
On Sept. 1, Benton Police Chief Kevin Kilcher told CBS affiliate 12 News, “Officers have gathered witnesses and collected video of the incident… and are continuing the investigation.” He added that the department will forward all reports and evidence to the prosecutor’s office for review.
That same day, the restaurant’s parent company A&M Management Group posted a statement, calling the kiss an “unpleasant interaction” and “unfortunate issue.”
“An incident occurred on Friday, August 28th at Stearman Bar & Grill that involved an unpleasant interaction between one of our equity holders and a guest. The safety and satisfaction of our customers is our highest priority,” it read. “We ask for your continued support and trust while we work through this unfortunate issue.”
The statement noted that the company is “taking steps to ensure that this type of conduct does not happen again,” but did not provide further information on what that entailed.
