A dramatic confrontation at a popular Californian theme park, captured on video, shows a female security guard tackling a guest to the ground after being struck in the face during a dispute over queue-jumping.
Violent Confrontation Captured on Camera
The incident unfolded on Saturday at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, within the Los Angeles metropolitan area. According to witness accounts and video obtained by KTLA, the altercation began after a park employee prevented a woman from entering an attraction, having identified her for cutting in line.
The situation quickly escalated, drawing security personnel to the scene. The video footage begins mid-argument, showing the woman who skipped the queue in a heated exchange with a security guard, while another female guest attempts to intervene between them.
In a sudden and aggressive move, the line-cutter is seen hitting the security guard in the face, an action that shocked onlookers and prompted loud exclamations from the crowd.
Guard's Swift Response and Arrests
The security guard responded immediately, tackling the assailant to the ground. The crowd's reaction swiftly turned from shock to cheers as the guard subdued the unruly visitor. The guard appears to have suffered a nosebleed from the blow, seen wiping her nose with her sleeve after retrieving handcuffs to restrain the woman.
A witness praised the staff's handling, telling KTLA, "Knott's staff did an excellent job in de-escalating the situation," noting that the guard "did not use pepper spray or violence. She quickly got her on the floor."
The Buena Park Police Department was called and subsequently arrested two women: the individual who struck the guard and the guest who tried to get between them during the argument. Knott's Berry Farm confirmed the arrests in a statement to the Daily Mail, though specific charges were not disclosed.
Theme Park's Stance on Unruly Behaviour
In its statement, the theme park emphasised its commitment to safety, stating: "The park is committed to providing a safe and orderly environment for all guests and does not tolerate inappropriate behaviour." All visitors are required to adhere to a code of conduct that explicitly prohibits "offensive behaviour" and "disruptive actions."
This is not an isolated challenge for the park. Due to the frequency of queue-jumping, Knott's Berry Farm introduced a text alert system in 2024, allowing guests to report line-cutters directly to security. The park warns that anyone caught skipping queues is subject to ejection.
The venue has implemented other measures to manage guest behaviour in recent years, including a chaperone policy for minors introduced in 2023 following similar incidents of disorderly conduct.
