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A man is claiming that Knott's Berry Farm security guards tackled him in front of his children after a woman falsely accused his family of stealing her child's sandals.
Anthony Reedberg and Debbie Bell took their family to Knott's Berry Farm on Friday to celebrate their daughter's fifth birthday, CBS LA reports. Reedberg said they were at the Lazy River at Soak City when a woman came up to his family and asked if they had taken her son's sandals out of the locker room. While Reedberg's son's shoes were the same brand—a black and white pair of Nike flip-flops—as the woman's son's, Reedberg said the woman was missing a size 9 and his son's are a size 3. He said he showed her that the sandals were a different size, and that seemed to be the end of it.
However, Reedberg said a security guard came up to him 45 minutes later and began asking him about the sandals. Reedberg said he explained the situation, but the guard asked him to come into a room and answer some questions. When Reedberg said no, he claims Knott's security tackled him to the ground without warning in front of his two children. At this point, Bell began recording the incident on her phone. Reedberg said he suffered a cut above his eye and scrapes on his knees.
Reedberg was arrested for assault and battery, but was eventually released. No charges have been filed, according to ABC 7.
Knott's Berry Farm officials have a different side of the story, saying via a statement Reedberg was "verbally abusive" during questioning, prompting them to ask him to leave, and assaulted Knott's security first.
"Redbird refused to leave and then physically assaulted several of our security staff members, which led to an arrest made by the Buena Park Police Department. We take matters of this nature very seriously and we remain committed to the safety of all of our guests and associates."
Reedberg says was never told to leave, and he never touched any of the guards. The family is now considering legal action against the park. The family's lawyer, Karen Miller, said that when someone says they haven't stolen something, you should "take it to the courts, don't take it to the streets."
No word on whatever happened with those missing sandals.
You can watch the video in the newscast below:
