Amusement Parks Security

Magic Mountain reopened Sunday to an enthusiastic spring break crowd as law enforcement officials, park managers and a music promoter tried to pinpoint blame for two melees that damaged both the park and its reputation as a place for family entertainment. An all-night repair job replaced broken windows and looted merchandise in time for Sunday's 10 a.m. opening.

Disneyland officials announced Thursday that they have begun allowing Anaheim police officers to be stationed full time in the theme park and would support legislation to regulate amusement parks. Word of the measures, the park's response to the December accident that killed a Washington state man, came during a wide-ranging discussion by Walt Disney Attractions President Paul Pressler and other company officials during a meeting with Times reporters and editors.

Disneyland's security practices have come under fire by some visitors who contend guards mistreated and unfairly detained them for purported crimes. The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed Tuesday that it is conducting a preliminary inquiry into one such incident involving members of a Covina family who contend in a lawsuit they were assaulted by at least five security guards in 1995. "It is under review for possible civil rights violations," said Myron Marlin, a department spokesman.

Disneyland officials announced Thursday that they have begun allowing Anaheim police officers to be stationed permanently in the theme park and would support legislation to regulate amusement parks. Word of the measures, the park's response to the December accident that killed a Washington state man, came during a wide-ranging discussion by Walt Disney Attractions President Paul Pressler and other company officials during a meeting with Times reporters and editors.

On the streets of The Happiest Place on Earth, they are Public Enemy No. 1. Their crimes include hogging park benches near the Tomorrowland Terrace, congregating in large groups and peddling counterfeit admissions to the park. These are the "locals," the teen-agers from nearby neighborhoods with annual or seasonal passes to Disneyland and their parents' blessings to spend endless hours there because it is the safest drug-free hangout around.

Federal agents rushed to Disneyland over the Easter weekend after threats were received that terrorists planned to launch a lethal gas attack at the park like the one unleashed in the Tokyo subway system last month, sources and close to the case said Friday. Security was intensified during the extended holiday weekend--one of the most popular at the Orange County theme park--but the whole thing turned out to be "a hoax," Disneyland officials said late Friday night.

On many Saturday nights, more teenagers gather at Six Flags Magic Mountain, perhaps, than any other location in Los Angeles County. Drawn by a dizzying array of high-speed rides that have earned Magic Mountain a reputation as one of the nation's most thrilling amusement parks, teens made up a large segment of the more than 3 million visitors who passed through Magic Mountain's gates last year.

Permanent metal detectors will be installed at the shared entrance to the Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor theme parks, officials with the parks' operator, Six Flags, announced Friday. By December, all visitors to the adjacent Valencia parks will be required to pass through the high-tech screening devices to help ensure no weapons find their way inside, officials said.

Federal agents rushed to Disneyland over the Easter weekend after threats were received that terrorists planned to launch a lethal gas attack at the park like the one unleashed in the Tokyo subway system last month, sources close to the case said Friday. Security was intensified during the extended holiday weekend--one of the most popular at the Orange County theme park--but there were no incidents or arrests.

Attorneys for 10 Latinos said they filed a $5-million lawsuit Thursday against Six Flags Magic Mountain, alleging racial discrimination by security guards at the amusement park. "You can't institute policies under the guise of security that are blatantly discriminatory," said Jack Luellen, an attorney for the plaintiffs. Magic Mountain executives said they could not discuss the lawsuit, but a spokeswoman said: "To say that Six Flags is discriminatory in any form is absurd."

Permanent metal detectors will be installed at the shared entrance to the Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor theme parks, officials with the parks' operator, Six Flags, announced Friday. By December, all visitors to the adjacent Valencia parks will be required to pass through the high-tech screening devices to help ensure no weapons find their way inside, officials said.

On many Saturday nights, more teenagers gather at Six Flags Magic Mountain, perhaps, than any other location in Los Angeles County. Drawn by a dizzying array of high-speed rides that have earned Magic Mountain a reputation as one of the nation's most thrilling amusement parks, teens made up a large segment of the more than 3 million visitors who passed through Magic Mountain's gates last year.

Disneyland's security practices have come under fire by some visitors who contend that guards mistreated and unfairly detained them for purported crimes. The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed Tuesday that it is conducting a preliminary inquiry into one such incident involving members of a Covina family who contend in a lawsuit they were assaulted by at least five security guards in 1995. "It is under review for possible civil rights violations," said Myron Marlin, a department spokesman.

While controversy swirls around claims of heavy-handed conduct by Disneyland security guards, Gov. Pete Wilson is poised to sign legislation that would make it tougher for patrons of California amusement parks to win civil damages against park security officers who detain them for suspected wrongdoing.

Attorneys for 10 Latinos said they filed a $5-million lawsuit Thursday against Six Flags Magic Mountain, alleging racial discrimination by security guards at the amusement park. "You can't institute policies under the guise of security that are blatantly discriminatory," said Jack Luellen, an attorney for the plaintiffs. Magic Mountain executives said they could not discuss the lawsuit, but a spokeswoman said: "To say that Six Flags is discriminatory in any form is absurd."

An Antelope Valley woman who was a performer on television's original "Mickey Mouse Club" has sued the Walt Disney Co., alleging that she and her family were robbed in the Disneyland parking lot and then held for hours against their will as park security officers questioned them.

Violence at Six Flags Magic Mountain in mid-April has prompted city and law enforcement officials to examine emergency procedures, such as ways to quickly evacuate the amusement park. Authorities also hope to install a telephone hot line to provide recorded information after an emergency, and they plan to establish an advisory group to review emergency procedures every six months.

The ACLU filed a racial discrimination lawsuit Thursday on behalf of three Latino teen-agers refused admission to Magic Mountain, but said it will rethink the case after one of the teen-agers told The Times that he had admitted to amusement park guards that he was affiliated with a gang.