Dad Claims Knott's Berry Farm Security Roughed Him Up In Front Of His Kids -- Over $20 Sandals

LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com)  —  An Orange County father says a day of fun with his wife and kids turned into a nightmare when security guards at Knott's roughed him up.

And Anthony Reedberg says security overreacted and roughed him up in front of his kids at Soak City during what was supposed to be the capper on his daughter's 5th birthday celebration..

The Long Beach dad told KCAL9's Stacey Butler that his nightmare began around 5:45 p.m. when a woman asked his wife if there had been some kind of mix-up with kids' sandals at the Lazy River.

"She said 'Did we find the sandals or are those her sons?' I said these are my sons. And once I said that, I thought it was left alone," said Debbie Bell.

The sandals the woman was looking for were reportedly a size nine.

"These are a size three," Reedberg says, showing Butler the sandals in question.

Reedberg and Bell said they thought the misunderstanding was cleared up and over.

They said about 45 minutes later, some Soak City security followed him and asked him more questions about the sandals.

"I let them know, the lady asked us already about the sandals, we don't know nothing you're talking about," he said, trying to walk away.

That's when Reedberg says he was asked to go into a room and answer some questions.

"I let them know, I have no reason to go to a room. I don't know what's going on. Why would I want to take $20 sandals?" he said.

Reedberg says at this point, five guards knocked him to the ground.

Knott's says he assaulted the guards first.

Reedberg was pinned down and he says guards then demanded he roll over.

"They got both hands ones on top of me, in my groin," he says, "I can't do it."

Horrified, Bell says she started recording the guards fighting with her husband.

"It's just a prime example of someone being targeted for something they didn't do," she said.

Reedberg was arrested on assault and battery charges and put into a jail cell.

He was later released.

In a statement, Knott's Communications Director Jason Soyster said, "The guest refused to leave and then physically assaulted several of our security staff members which led to an arrest made by The Buena Park Police Department. We take matters of this nature very seriously and we remain committed to the safety of all of our guests and associates."

Reedberg says he and his family are considering legal action.