Vulgar Display of Orange
08-06-2009, 08:10 AM
Youths brawl at Big Splash
(http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090806_11_A11_Police861718&allcom=1)
By MATT BARNARD World Staff Writer
Published: 8/6/2009 2:33 AM
Last Modified: 8/6/2009 7:29 AM
Authorities closed the Big Splash Water Park for the night after hundreds of youths brawled inside the park and in its parking lot Wednesday evening, police said.
Capt. Travis Yates estimated that 3,500 people were at the park, which he said had only one security guard on duty.
There were no reports that weapons were involved, and police knew of only one injury — a girl who was trampled by the crowd and had rib injuries, Yates said.
Specific information on her condition was not available, but Yates said her injuries were not life-threatening.
Large-scale fights started breaking out at the park when an event sponsored by Christian radio station KXOJ drew larger-than- expected crowds, Yates said.
Big Splash, on the southeast corner of Expo Square at 21st Street and Yale Avenue, noted on its Web site that it was hosting a "Waves of Worship" event from 7 to 10 p.m.
Big Splash Manager Amber Beck said Wednesday night was a Christian youth night with Christian bands.
Yates said a large crowd had gathered outside before the park reopened for the evening event.
"Obviously, when you have 3,500 kids in a confined area, you're going to have some problems," he said.
Beck said a lot of churches had arranged for groups to attend but that cheap admission — $5 per person — drew "the wrong crowd," as well.
By about 8:30 p.m., park officials had called the police because the crowd was too large for them to handle, Yates said.
Fights
started breaking out about 30 minutes after officers arrived, he said. While police tried to get the situation under control, managers shut down the park. The crowd then spilled out into the parking lot, where the fights continued, Yates said.
As officers tried to break up those fights, the crowd dispersed. A large number of people moved to the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market across the street, where some started looting merchandise, Yates said.
Meanwhile, police continued to deal with more youths around the south side of Expo Square who would move along when police approached and then meet up somewhere else nearby.
Roughly 35 to 50 officers were at the scene, and Yates said they didn't have to use force — just loudspeakers — to disperse the crowd.
No arrests had been made, he said about 10 p.m.
Beck said Wednesday's event was the third Christian youth night the park has hosted this summer and that this was the first time a problem had arisen.
She said she thinks word got out among teenagers that Big Splash is a place they can go on such nights and hang out for $5.
Park officials realized that they were going to have a problem when they started seeing groups of youths in street clothes rather than swimming suits coming in, Beck said.
In the future, she said, individual patrons won't be allowed in on such nights. Those who are allowed entrance will have to be with a prebooked group, she said.
Beck acknowledged that the park did have only one security guard on duty Wednesday night, and she said security will be bolstered in the future.
(http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090806_11_A11_Police861718&allcom=1)
By MATT BARNARD World Staff Writer
Published: 8/6/2009 2:33 AM
Last Modified: 8/6/2009 7:29 AM
Authorities closed the Big Splash Water Park for the night after hundreds of youths brawled inside the park and in its parking lot Wednesday evening, police said.
Capt. Travis Yates estimated that 3,500 people were at the park, which he said had only one security guard on duty.
There were no reports that weapons were involved, and police knew of only one injury — a girl who was trampled by the crowd and had rib injuries, Yates said.
Specific information on her condition was not available, but Yates said her injuries were not life-threatening.
Large-scale fights started breaking out at the park when an event sponsored by Christian radio station KXOJ drew larger-than- expected crowds, Yates said.
Big Splash, on the southeast corner of Expo Square at 21st Street and Yale Avenue, noted on its Web site that it was hosting a "Waves of Worship" event from 7 to 10 p.m.
Big Splash Manager Amber Beck said Wednesday night was a Christian youth night with Christian bands.
Yates said a large crowd had gathered outside before the park reopened for the evening event.
"Obviously, when you have 3,500 kids in a confined area, you're going to have some problems," he said.
Beck said a lot of churches had arranged for groups to attend but that cheap admission — $5 per person — drew "the wrong crowd," as well.
By about 8:30 p.m., park officials had called the police because the crowd was too large for them to handle, Yates said.
Fights
started breaking out about 30 minutes after officers arrived, he said. While police tried to get the situation under control, managers shut down the park. The crowd then spilled out into the parking lot, where the fights continued, Yates said.
As officers tried to break up those fights, the crowd dispersed. A large number of people moved to the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market across the street, where some started looting merchandise, Yates said.
Meanwhile, police continued to deal with more youths around the south side of Expo Square who would move along when police approached and then meet up somewhere else nearby.
Roughly 35 to 50 officers were at the scene, and Yates said they didn't have to use force — just loudspeakers — to disperse the crowd.
No arrests had been made, he said about 10 p.m.
Beck said Wednesday's event was the third Christian youth night the park has hosted this summer and that this was the first time a problem had arisen.
She said she thinks word got out among teenagers that Big Splash is a place they can go on such nights and hang out for $5.
Park officials realized that they were going to have a problem when they started seeing groups of youths in street clothes rather than swimming suits coming in, Beck said.
In the future, she said, individual patrons won't be allowed in on such nights. Those who are allowed entrance will have to be with a prebooked group, she said.
Beck acknowledged that the park did have only one security guard on duty Wednesday night, and she said security will be bolstered in the future.