McALESTER — Pittsburg County sheriff’s  deputies say they are getting closer to wrapping up a probe into an altercation involving two groups of people that occurred on the shores of Lake Eufaula at Bedford Beach, located at Sooner Haven in the Longtown area.

Sheriff’s deputies had been dispatched to the site on the night of July 17 after getting a call reporting a fight “involving about 15 people,” according to records obtained by the News-Capital.

Two of those at the scene on the night of the altercation had been off-duty McAlester Police Officer Mitch Weeks and his brother, Wesley Weeks, as well as both men’s respective wives, documents obtained by the News-Capital confirmed.

The two Weeks brothers were on opposite sides during the incident, according to conclusions drawn by investigators at this point.

So were their wives, investigators have concluded. Deputies were told that the incident was related to an ongoing “family feud.”

Both of the women — whom investigators concluded were among those involved in an altercation  — had visible marks on them that night, according to officers who were at the scene.

Another man had a black eye, according to the sheriff’s department.

Sheriff Joel Kerns and Dep. Sgt. Richard Bedford —who said Bedford Beach has no connection to him —said it’s taken some time to conduct the investigation, partially because so many people were involved and also because a number of witnesses left the scene by boat before sheriff’s deputies arrived.

Bedford also said the first deputies to arrive at the scene told him that after they got there on the night of the incident, no one would sign off on filing a complaint against any of the others involved.

Sheriff’s Deputy Jack Suter had been the first officer to arrive at the scene, closely followed by additional deputies.

Suter said any fights had already ended by the time he arrived. The two Weeks brothers and their wives were still on the beach. He also confirmed that no one

would sign off on filing a complaint that night.

However, a few days later, at least some of those involved changed their minds, went to the sheriff’s office and said they now wanted to file an official complaint, according to Bedford.

Investigators are hearing different accounts from some of those they’ve been able to talk with, so far.

Most accounts agree it began with yelling back and forth by at least some of those involved and ended in fisticuffs —although who was the agressor, who was actually fighting and who was trying to break up fights is a matter of dispute.

At this point, no one involved on either side has been arrested or charged, Sheriff Kerns said.

Although investigators are hearing conflicting accounts of what occurred, they have reached some conclusions, according to the sheriff’s department.

Investigators have concluded that Mitch Weeks and his group were at the beach when the second group arrived by boat, according to Suter.

As for what happened afterwards, allegations and counter-allegations of assault or assault and battery are swirling as sheriff’s deputies continue their probe.

At City Hall, McAlester Police Chief Jim Lyles said Thursday he’s aware of the investigation under way by the sheriff’s department, but knew few of the details, other than that it concerned a dispute among family members.

“The sheriff  let me know they were looking into an incident at the lake involving one of our officers and I told him ‘we all have to do our job,’” Lyles said.

Mitch Weeks remains on regular duty at the police department. However, he was off duty Thursday. The News-Capital left a phone message asking to speak with him. The call had not been returned as this article was going to press.

Chief Lyles said Thursday afternoon that Patrolman Mitch Weeks is not on any type of suspension. No complaints have been lodged against him at the McAlester Police Department, Lyles said.

Weeks, who is approaching 25 years with the police department, has a good record as a police officer, the chief said.

“He always ‘rides the horse the proper way,’” Lyles said.

Meanwhile, at the sheriff’s department, Bedford said statements are still being taken. Suter said he also hopes to talk to some property owners in the area after hearing reports of some families who were not involved in the incident at the public beach fleeing the scene as the altercation began.

Once the investigation is completed, Kerns and Bedford said the completed report will be turned over to District 18 District Attorney Jim Bob Miller’s office so that prosecutors can determine whether or not any charges should be filed against anyone involved in the incident.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.