Unruly behavior leads to safety changes at annual Neshaminy Carnival in Bensalem
Traveling carnivals are a summertime staple like baseball and funnel cake. But they can also be a magnet for trouble as Bensalem police experienced Friday night.
After what police called “unacceptable activity” in and around the annual fair at the Neshaminy Mall, Bensalem police announced new crackdowns for the rest of the 10-day run, which ends May 21.
"This was by far the worst night we've seen with disorderly conduct," Bensalem Director of Public Safety William McVey said. “Bensalem Police will have a zero-tolerance policy as it relates to criminal activity of juveniles and adults who attend this year's carnival."
Here is a look at the changes and why.
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What happened at the Neshaminy carnival?
Bensalem police responded to the carnival for multiple incidents Friday night involving dozens of juveniles fighting and acting disorderly, according to McVey. As a result of the conduct, police closed the carnival operations at 9 p.m.
Social media posts, including videos and photos, showed crowds of teenagers and young adults running around the fairgrounds.
Around the same time police were responding to reports of juveniles fighting at the carnival, they received a report of a juvenile who was robbed and pistol-whipped in the mall parking lot near the carnival site.
Responding officers saw a juvenile who matched the description of a suspect, McVey said. The suspect and two others with him ran from police. The juveniles were later caught across the street at the St. David cemetery after police deployed a drone and canine officer.
One of the juveniles had an active warrant for robbery charges out of Philadelphia, McVey said. He was transported to Edison Juvenile Detention. The investigation is continuing into the alleged robbery. The victim was treated and released from a local hospital, McVey said.
What are the changes police made at the Neshaminy carnival?
Bensalem police and carnival management made changes in fair operations including installing a fence around the perimeter of the fairgrounds. Other changes implemented as of Saturday for the duration of the fair.
All carnival visitors must use a single entrance point where all guests will be subject to identification checks.
Anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is at least 21 years old. Fair guests should be prepared to show valid identification (with picture and date of birth) such as a driver’s license, state identification card, military ID, passport or visa to enter.
The carnival will close at 10 every night.
There will be an increased presence of Bensalem police officers and carnival security officers. Bensalem police doubled the number of uniformed officers it posts, McVey said. The cost of officer overtime is paid by Dreamland Amusements.
Generally admission to the fair is free, but after 5 p.m. Dreamland may require a wristband or ticket purchase to enter the premises to allow for crowd control for paying guests.
No further incidents have been reported at the carnival since the changes were implemented Saturday, McVey said. Carnival operators were told if the modifications did not work, the fair would be shut down permanently.
"The safety of patrons and the community are the number one priority of the township," McVey said.
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Have Bensalem police had other problems at the Neshaminy carnival?
During the carnival's run in 2013, a ticket booth operator was charged with double-charging credit cards for customers buying ride tickets. She was charged with theft by deception and receiving stolen property but skipped down before her case was heard.
In 2015, Bensalem police arrested a Dreamland Amusement carnival worker for using his cellphone to film up the skirt of a female shopper at the Boscov's store at the Neshaminy Mall, hours before the kickoff of the fair. The 34-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to invasion of privacy and he was sentenced to three to six months in jail.
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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Neshaminy Carnival has new rules in Bensalem after unruly incidents
