Elitch Gardens says security followed protocol after 12-year-old injured in fight

DENVER ( KDVR ) — A video is circulating on social media of a gruesome fight over the weekend at Elitch Gardens where a 14 and 12-year-old were injured and kicked off the property.

FOX31 was unable to gain access to share the video that’s been circulating online, but in it, viewers can see what looks like two adults holding down the two boys, one on the ground while he’s being kicked and punched, the other being held up while he’s punched.

One of the boys, 12-year-old Mack Thalley, said there was an original altercation with the group, but he and his 14-year-old cousin walked away. Fast forward a few hours, and as they were leaving the bathrooms, they saw the same group. That’s when things escalated.

“Two kids walk up to me, and they start punching on me and one grabbed me from behind and choked me out and I was on the floor and two others came over and were hitting me in the face and then after the fight was over, I got kicked right here in my head,” Thalley said.

There is a gash visible on the side of his head. He was also left with a concussion and several fractured ribs. He said directly after the fight, he and his cousin were kicked out.

“I skipped away and then I saw some security officers come up to me and I told them I didn’t want to talk, I just wanted to leave and then I told them I got jumped and my head hurt, and they escorted me outside of the facility and told me to leave,” he said.

His mother, Brooklynn Green, is upset with how Elitch Gardens handled the situation. She believes she should have been called, rather than the park kicking the boys out.

“I am highly upset with the situation that happened, but I am more upset with Elitch and how they handled the situation. I wasn’t called, there was no police report made and they didn’t call to make sure the kids were picked up safely, they made them leave the property,” Green said.

She went to Elitch to try and get information on what happened but said she wasn’t welcomed with answers and was also asked to leave.

“I need answers because I didn’t have any,” Green said. “As of right now, we don’t know who the guys are, we know nothing about them, they are just out there. But in reality, that man alone should have left that park in handcuffs.”

FOX31 reached out to Elitch Gardens, which provided a statement.

“ At Elitch Gardens, we are committed to maintaining a safe and enjoyable environment for all guests. When any security incident occurs at Elitch Gardens, the entire Security team, including on-site Denver Police Officers, is notified immediately via radio and responds accordingly; this was also the situation in this case. All known parties involved in this event were escorted from the park. Any additional inquiries should be directed to the Denver Police Department. “

Elitch Gardens spokesperson

Denver police said they do have a record of the incident, but said the report wasn’t made until the day after, on Sunday. If you have any information on the incident, you are urged to contact the Denver Police Department.

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