Knott's Berry Farm reopens after fights
Videos circulating online show a security guard and a woman knocked down; venue closed early
Multiple fights broke out Saturday evening at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, causing the park to close early for the night, officials said.
Police responded around 7:30 p.m. to the park as the fights were occurring, Buena Park Police Department Sgt. Chad Weaver said.
There were reports from amusement parkgoers that shots were heard, but Weaver said police found no evidence of a shooting.
Video footage from the park Saturday showed a chaotic and panicked scene as people rushed to safety. Some people, fearing a shooting, hid in restaurants or park shops.
A video circulating online showed a security guard knocked to the ground by a punch and surrounded by a large group of people while still lying on the floor. Another Knott's security officer is seen shielding a woman who had been shoved to the floor as people continue to throw punches.
Another video shows a fight between what appear to be teenagers. One boy is punched and kicked while on the ground, then gets up, stumbling away.
“The safety of Knott's Berry Farm's guests and associates is always our top priority. On Saturday evening, the decision was made to close the park three hours early due to unruly behavior and altercations involving a number of teenagers,” Knotts said in a statement. “This behavior did not align with our park's values, and was not the experience we want any guest to have while visiting Knott's Berry Farm.”
Knotts normally closes at 11 p.m. on Saturdays, but on this night it closed at about 8 p.m. It reopened for regular business on Sunday, a park spokeswoman said during a brief interview.
Multiple victims were assaulted, but the exact number could not be confirmed as some people had left the park before receiving treatment or speaking with police. The injuries were not life-threatening, Weaver said around 8:45 p.m.
The Orange County Fire Authority was called to the scene just before 8 p.m. Two people were transported to a local hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries and one person received treatment on scene, but declined transportation to a hospital, OCFA Capt. Sean Doran said around 10 p.m.
OCFA paramedics remained on scene hours after the park closed.
Whether the fights were in the same location at the park or in separate areas was under investigation. No arrests were made as of 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
No park staff were injured Saturday evening and no major property damage was discovered the following day, a park spokeswoman said.