Lawless teen takeover targets iconic SoCal amusement park as cops issue warning

Days after Fourth of July mayhem wrecked Newport Beach, an iconic SoCal amusement park appears to be the rabble-rousers’ next target.

Knott’s Berry Farm, home to dozens of thrilling rides set to an Old West theme, is facing threats of a teen takeover as early as Saturday.

Buena Park police are trying to identify those responsible for the potentially disruptive gathering.

“We are aware of an unsanctioned event being planned at Knott’s Berry Farm,” department officials noted on Facebook. “We have worked with park officials and our public safety partners to identify those responsible for organizing this unauthorized gathering.”

“The safety of our community, park guests, and employees remain our highest priority,” they added. “We will have an increased law enforcement presence and will take appropriate enforcement action against anyone who engages in criminal or disruptive behavior.”

Details about the takeover are unclear, but it’s expected to be similar to the Newport Beach takeover.

The Newport “TikTok Takeover” resulted in more than 400 arrests, with youth and minors making up the majority of the offenders. Videos showed aerial fireworks exploding at close range as people scrambled to get out of the way, while another clip showed someone throwing fireworks into a packed crowd.

Separate footage also showed an individual wearing a Spider-Man mask climbing a traffic signal before leading the crowd in chants of “USA, USA, USA.” Other clips appear to show people carrying broken street signs and looting a nearby Pavilions grocery store on West Balboa Boulevard.

Police are already trying to quash a different “beach takeover” for Huntington Beach set for Saturday.

A flyer went out for the disruptive event, marketing it as a “Beach Bash.”

“Dear ‘Beach Bash’ organizers…Thanks for the flyer. We’ve seen it too,” Huntington Beach Police wrote, before advising that they are seeking out the organizers and may prosecute them.

“The HBPD Special Investigations Bureau have already identified individuals believed to be involved in organizing and promoting this event, and those investigations are ongoing,” they wrote.

“Anyone who organizes, promotes, encourages, or participates in criminal activity associated with a takeover event may be arrested and prosecuted. Depending on the facts, charges may include Penal Code § 404.6 (Incitement to Riot), along with vandalism, theft, assault, reckless driving, unlawful assembly, conspiracy, and other applicable offenses,” police added.

The iconic park has been enveloped in disruptive behavior from teens and minors before.

As a result, the park implemented a policy in 2023 requiring youths 15 and younger “to be accompanied in the park by an adult who’s at least 21 in order to enter or stay at Knott’s Berry Farm after 4 p.m. Anyone 15 or younger who is found in the park without a chaperone will be thrown out.”

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