Mother defends son arrested after brawl at North Shore bar

PITTSBURGH — A man is facing charges after police say he was involved in a bar brawl.

The man's mother claims police have the facts wrong.

Myra Campbell told Channel 11 she was with her son, Derek, 28, Saturday night at McFadden's Saloon on the North Shore.

They had gathered for a family graduation celebration but what should have been a night of fun, turned into an all-out brawl.

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"I do not fault my son for sticking up for himself," Campbell said.

According to court papers, police got a complaint that Derek Campbell was dancing inappropriately with a girl and when the girl's boyfriend tried to push him away "a large fight ensued."

But his mother claims her son was trying to stop an assault from happening to a female friend with their party.

"It looked to me like it might escalate into something physical and I have raised my sons not to stand back and let someone be assaulted. And my son was on it," she said.

The papers go on to say that, "several McFadden security were injured ... while attempting to break up the fight" and physically remove Derek Campbell.

"Then all of a sudden I saw five guys. I guess it was security at McFadden's. I know there were at least five guys on my son," Myra Campbell said.

Court papers also say that Derek Campbell was "ordered to leave the establishment multiple times, to which he ignored" and that he and his family were "screaming obscenities at officers..."

"It's been said that we were very obnoxious, the family. All I was doing was making sure my son was not injured any further," Myra Campbell said.

Derek Campbell faces a number of charges, including aggravated assault, which is a felony, resisting arrest and public drunkenness.

Cox Media Group