Stopping the fights around the Tulsa County Fairgrounds

The owner of Bell's Amusement park met with Tulsa County Sheriff's deputies Monday about the fights that forced the park to close early Saturday night. <br><br>They agreed to beef up security

Monday, March 24th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The owner of Bell's Amusement park met with Tulsa County Sheriff's deputies Monday about the fights that forced the park to close early Saturday night.

They agreed to beef up security at the park, after several fights got out of control and deputies and police had to take over. News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright has the story.

The crowd was so large, deputies and police decided it was safest to clear the park, separate the troublemakers and send everyone home. Tulsa County Sheriffâ€™s office Sgt Willie Lewis, "A couple of fights broke out and spread throughout the park. Luckily, no one was seriously injured."

Deputies on the scene Saturday night say there were no security guards on duty at Bell's when the fights broke out, but Robbie Bell says that's not true. He says four security guards were here and he plans to triple that number this weekend to 12.

Bell says the problem was just that twice as many people as expected showed up for opening weekend and the simply didn't have enough staff on duty, but will in the future. "I'm a reserve deputy myself and am in good with the Sheriff's department. It was probably less than five people who caused the problem. We'll probably have another big crowd this weekend.â€

Of course, this is the second large crowd incident in a few weeks. The Indoor Fun Fair also had to be closed early after one fight turned into several and the crowd got out of hand. Bell believes it's a change in teens themselves. "I think alot of it turns on teenagers have no respect for authority. I think a lot of businesses are dealing with it, this attitude of young teenagers, but, that's okay, we'll work through it and go on."

And, hopefully have a summer filled with fun, instead of fights. Tulsa Police arrested seven people at Bell's Saturday night, for refusing to leave when officers ordered them to.