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Fights break out at Knott’s Berry Farm, causing the park to close early

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Details about what prompted the fights among teenagers in the park remain unknown.

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Knott's Berry Farm says it is stepping up security in response to fighting that broke out Saturday night , forcing the park to close three hours early and sending patrons fleeing.

Some of the fighting was captured on video and posted on social media as teenagers threw punches on a street outside the park, and security guards were caught up in the melee. As the fights erupted, panicked visitors ran for safety.

One person said on TikTok that she didn't know why teenagers were "punching random people."

"I was so scared," she said, adding that many children were crying.

Two injured people were taken to the hospital by paramedics, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Sean Doran said, and a third person was assessed by paramedics but declined treatment.

Buena Park police said numerous calls to 911 reported possible gunfire, but officers at the scene determined no shots had been fired.

The park said it had shared video footage and guest information with the Buena Park Police Department and that visitors would find enhanced security and police presence at the park.

"The safety of Knott's Berry Farm's guests and associates is always our top priority," the park said in a statement. "The decision was made to close the park three hours early due to unruly behavior and altercations involving a number of teenagers. 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."

The park reopened Sunday.

Neither Knott's Berry Farm nor its owner, the company Cedar Fair, responded to emailed questions from The Times about the violence and seeking specifics on how it was handling security measures after reopening.

Enrique Castro of Anaheim waited in the entry lineSunday morning with his wife, son, grandson and a group of relatives who were visiting from Coahuila, Mexico. He said he wasn't concerned about safety, despite what had happened the previous night.

"This has always been a safe place for me and my family," Castro said. "We've been coming here for years and trust the security. I've never really heard of anything like this before."

At the entrance Sunday, visitors' bags, backpacks and personal items were searched. Security personnel from Fullerton-based Allied Universal Event Services used handheld metal detectors, while other parkgoers who didn't have bags proceeded through metal detectors.

Inside the park, staff wearing yellow shirts roamed the grounds. Security guards in white uniforms kept watch.

Griselda Navarro, a mother of two from Santa Ana, said she saw the news about the fights but didn't want to disappoint her kids. She said they agreed on a compromise: to leave the park at 6 p.m.

"I think Knott's is safe, but you have to be careful," Navarro said. "You never know what can happen."

As the fighting broke out on Saturday, rumors of a shooting prompted scared patrons to hide, according to social media posts.

"There was a fight while everyone was crowded to get out," wrote one parkgoer on Facebook. "Suddenly everyone was screaming and then running. We were let out through the staff only area."

One cellphone video showed a young man punching another teenager as he lay on the ground, his arms raised to protect his head. Another cellphone video showed a security guard sprawled on the ground.

One woman told KABC-TV Channel 7 that she saw some people "hitting security," and one person "on the floor bleeding."

"It was like a riot," she said.
Times audience engagement editor Marisa Martinez contributed to this story.

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Knott's Berry Farm stepping up security after multiple fights force park to close early

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Some of the fighting was captured on video and posted on social media as teenagers threw punches on a street outside the Buena Park venue

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This source is good because it tells you about the new chaperone policy and shows a news video and some evidence.

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Knott's Berry Farm announced last week that the theme park would be implementing a "chaperone policy" that will require all guests aged 17 or under to be accompanied by a 21-or-older chaperone throughout their visit to the park.

The policy, which applies on Fridays and Saturdays, was in response to a brawl among teenagers that forced the park to close early on the night of Saturday, July 16.

Any teens found unaccompanied in the park on Fridays or Saturdays "will be subject to ejection" under the policy, which began taking effect on Friday, July 22.

The policy follows an outbreak of violence among unruly teens around 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 16. Police said they initially responded to the park on reports of shots possibly being fired, but investigators determined no gunfire had occurred.

The park attributed the disturbance to "unruly behavior and altercations involving a number of teenagers."

Video circulated on social media showed a melee of brawling teens that sent many park visitors scrambling for safety. Two people were taken to hospitals for treatment.

The disturbance prompted the park to close three hours early.

Knott's announced the chaperone policy on its website.

On that webpage, and in a statement to NBC 4, Knott's said, "For decades, Knott's Berry Farm has been a place where families and friends come together to enjoy our one-of-a-kind park. Millions of guests have counted on us for their daily dose of wholesome family fun, and we're committed to keeping that promise going forward."

Knott's also includes a prohibited section which highlights behavior and acts not permitted in the park:

Carrying firearms is not allowed

Unsolicited photographs and videos

Disruptive behavior that interferes with guests enjoyment

Fighting or physical aggression of any kind, including verbal and physical assaults

Acts or behavior that park management deems is a safety concern

Harassing/ threatening behavior, sexual misconduct

Offensive language

Clothing with offensive language, obscene graphics

Intoxication or substance impairment

Smoking/ vaping not allowed inside

Under the chaperone policy, all teens aged 17 or less must be accompanied by a chaperone with a valid ID confirming their age of 21 or older on Fridays and Saturdays.

One chaperone can accompany as many as three teens, but the chaperone must "remain with their party at all times during their visit to the park and be available by phone throughout their stay."

The policy will be in effect "until further notice."

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Following Teen Fights, Knott's Berry Farm Starts New Chaperone Policy

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Knott's Berry Farm is introducing a new chaperone policy after multiple fights broke out at the theme park over the weekend. Here's what to know about the new...

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Most of the people under age are not going to Knotts Berry Farm anymore.

People haven't been getting into fights at Knotts Berry Farm anymore.

No edgars have been going to the park alot.

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Most kids over the age of 13-14 don't like going to theme parks with their parents or people over the age of 21.

Offensive language so we get kicked out if we curse? what kind of stuff is it that everyone uses bad language

Instead of the fights stopping at just Knotts spreading around other parks.

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Knotts berry farm

8039 Beach Blvd

Buena Park, CA 90620

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Should Knott's change its policy about not letting people under 17 years old go to knotts by themselves?

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Should Knott's change its policy about not letting people under 17 years old go to knotts by themselves?