Over 50 children and teens have been charged in connection with a large-scale brawl that broke out on opening day at Hersheypark, a popular, sweet-themed amusement park in Pennsylvania.
Fifty-five kids and teens between the ages of 12 and 19 are facing charges, including simple assault, conspiracy, theft, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct, aggravated assault and riot stemming from the park’s April 3 opening day, the Derry Township Police Department announced this week. Two of the teens charged are 18 and one is 19.
Authorities said they were called to the family-friendly theme park around 7 p.m. on April 3 after security reported several large fights between groups of teens inside the park.
The fights were “disrupting services for other patrons and posing safety concerns,” police said in April.
After breaking up the fights, three people were arrested and several others were kicked out of the park.
The fights only caused “minor interruptions” of park operations, police said. Authorities said they were unaware of anyone injured in the incident.
The Independent has reached out to Hersey Park for comment.
Authorities did not specify how many charges each of the 55 children and teens faced when announcing the arrests on Monday.
“This investigation highlights the Derry Township Police Department’s commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of our residents, workers, and guests,” police said in a press release. “Our Department, including our Criminal Investigation Section, takes these types of public safety issues seriously, investing significant time into cases like this one to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”
Following the incident, Hersheypark enhanced its security measures. Guests are now required to undergo a photo verification process if they want to leave and return, CBS News Philadelphia reported.
The park previously used a hand-stamp process to manage re-entry, which “relies on manual verification and can be less efficient and more susceptible to misuse than digital validation,” the park said in a statement to CBS.
“We continually review our policies and procedures to align with industry practices and evolving guest expectations, with a focus on maintaining a safe, family-friendly environment at Hersheypark,” the park said.
