Valleyfair closes early after police respond to reports of multiple fights

Valleyfair amusement park in Shakopee shut down early Saturday night after police responded to "reports of multiple fights" on the park grounds.

Shakopee police reported that there were no reports of injuries; three people were cited for what police called "minor offenses."

Saturday was the opening day of the park's "Valleyscare" Halloween-themed events, which includes daytime "Great Pumpkin Fest" activities for kids and nighttime "Halloween Haunt" activities for teens and adults.

Shakopee police reported on Facebook shortly before 11 p.m. that officers were responding to a fight at Valleyfair and that the park was being closed for the night; the scheduled closing time was midnight.

Several hours later, the department said in a Facebook post that as officers responded to reports of multiple fights, "the number of individuals running throughout the park increased substantially and was difficult to control. Due to the large number of altercations, it was decided to clear the park of all guests. Officers from Shakopee and surrounding communities ushered out all guests from the park."

The department said it had no evidence of weapons being used in the fights.

Valleyfair posted a statement online that read: "There were incidents on September 22 at Valleyfair that required assistance on property from Shakopee police officers and were quickly addressed. There are no reported guest injuries. The safety of our guests is our top priority."

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.