'Borderline riot' at Alabama Adventure theme park sends police in, park guests out

Jefferson County sheriff's cars exit the Alabama Adventure park after being called when officials reported several groups fighting at the park. Bessemer police temporarily blocked entrance to the park but officials at the park reported it operating this evening.

BESSEMER, Alabama -- Bessemer and Hueytown police, Jefferson County sheriff's deputies and ambulances descended on the Alabama Adventure theme park in Bessemer yesterday afternoon, with witnesses reporting numerous fights inside the park.
Bessemer police temporarily blocked the park's entrance to keep any vehicles from entering but are now allowing people into the park. However, streams of park guests have been flowing out.
Felix Torres, who was visiting the park today with his son, described it as a "borderline riot." He witnessed at least eight different fights, including chair throwing in the water park, and at least three people taken out of the park on gurneys, he said. "Every time we turned around, there was a fight," Torres said.
Craig Randolph, vice president and general manager for Alabama Adventure, said "we did have a few kids get out hand. Those folks are basically gone. The park is still open.
"We had some scuffles here and there," Randolph said. "We worked with Bessemer police and our staff to get those folks out of here."
Randolph said the trouble started about 2:30 or 3 p.m., but he could not say whether there were any people injured or arrested.