Winfield Bar Disturbance Involving Mayor and Off-Duty Officers Under Prosecutor Review
- John Eads
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
WINFIELD, Mo. — Lincoln CountyWatch has continued reviewing records and witness accounts related to a disturbance reported at Playoffs Sports Bar & Grill in Winfield on December 20, 2025, an incident that occurred during a private gathering and involved the Winfield mayor and off-duty law enforcement officers.
Based on records reviewed by Lincoln CountyWatch, deputies were dispatched to the bar late that evening after a disturbance was reported. The incident unfolded after a group that had been attending a private gathering earlier in the night arrived at the establishment. By the time deputies arrived, the physical altercation had already been broken up.
Emergency medical services were requested during the response, and at least one person reported injuries. Responding deputies did not observe any life-threatening injuries at the scene. No arrests were made that night, and those involved were allowed to leave.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that off-duty law enforcement officers were present and involved, but were not acting in any official capacity. The Sheriff’s Office also confirmed that the Mayor of Winfield, Nicole Hanson, was present at the establishment during the incident.
An incident report was completed and forwarded to the Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review. The Sheriff’s Office has emphasized that its role in the matter was limited to documenting what occurred and submitting that information for legal review, not determining fault, charging decisions ir judging character.
Where Things Stand Now
Lincoln CountyWatch reached out to the Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for comment and clarification on the status of the case. A spokesperson responded that the matter remains under review, with any further action pending completion of the ongoing investigation and receipt of the relevant records. No charging decision has been made at this time.
The mayor has not publicly commented on the incident. When contacted, the mayor directed Lincoln CountyWatch to the City of Winfield’s attorney.
In a written response, the city attorney stated the incident occurred during a private, non-city-related gathering and advised that the City of Winfield does not possess investigative records related to the matter. The city indicated it has no investigative role and directed records requests to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
Lincoln CountyWatch also attempted to contact Playoffs Sports Bar & Grill regarding the incident. Management declined to comment and directed all inquiries to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
Lincoln CountyWatch has also reached out to Winfield Police Chief Wideman for comment. As of publication, no response has been received.
Records Requests Ongoing
Lincoln CountyWatch has filed Missouri Sunshine Law requests seeking incident reports, CAD logs, and related records from responding agencies. Additional requests may be submitted as records are reviewed.
Because the matter remains under review and some records are not yet public, there are still unanswered questions regarding the full sequence of events and whether any charges will ultimately be filed.
Lincoln CountyWatch will continue to follow this story and provide updates as additional information becomes available.
Have information related to this incident?
Tips, documents, photos, or video can be sent confidentially to tips@LincolnCountyWatch.com or 636-377-0201.
This is a curious incident and I anticipate more information.