Michael R. Sparks

The Spirit of Christmas parade in Butler was the setting of a knife-wielding, profanity-laced altercation Saturday that landed a city resident behind bars.

Michael R. Sparks, 31, is facing felony assault and other charges in the incident that apparently occurred, Butler police said, when he tried to get a better vantage point to see the parade.

No one was injured in the incident.

A report of screams coming from Main Street near Brady Street about 5:50 p.m. led police to the defendant, who was attending the parade with family members, according to court documents.

Police said an officer “disarmed” the defendant after finding him with a “large fixed-blade knife.” Several witnesses told investigators that Sparks earlier brandished a knife on another man.

During the investigation, police learned that the defendant had come to the parade with his family. Sparks, with his young daughter on his shoulders, is accused of pushing his way to the front of the crowd.

Some of the others nearby asked him to move because their children could no longer see the parade.

“Sparks then turned this into an argument,” according to court documents, “while using vulgar language toward the kids and the families there.”

A man intervened, police said, telling the defendant that his language was inappropriate. At that point, Sparks allegedly pulled a knife from a sheath on his belt.

He told the man, documents said, “If you want to fight, let's fight.”

He was taken to the station, where police said he gave a “full confession.” Police said they also found him with hydrocodone, an opioid painkiller for which he did not have a prescription.

District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned Sparks on a felony charge of aggravated assault and misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats and possession of a controlled substance.

He was placed in the Butler County Prison on $25,000 bail following arraignment.