A Tortosa father says he saw his teen daughter and her friend attacked and beaten outside the UltraStar Cinemas movie theater on Maricopa Road.
Two other teen girls attacked his daughter and her friend Saturday outside the main entrance to the theater, said father Ron Tankamnerd, who said he had to take the girls to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.
“Unlike a mere fight, this was a physical assault,” Tankamnerd said. “My daughter and her friend were followed by the assailants, who were accompanied by a group of boys recording the incident.”
Maricopa Police Department spokesperson Monica Williams referred reporters to Ak-Chin police. Ak-Chin Police Chief Manuel Garcia said he could not comment on the incident and referred InMaricopa to Ak-Chin’s administrative offices, which did not return a call.
It is unknown if arrests were made, although the father said he believes the assailants were jailed.
Tankamnerd said he wanted to warn other parents of the teen danger that for months has been a threat at this movie theater.
“Unfortunately, this is not the first time such incidents have occurred among teens at this location,” Tankamnerd said. “It is essential that Maricopans are made aware of these safety concerns.”
Tankamnerd alluded to a May 10 brawl that erupted inside the movie theater.
After the massive fight during a showing of Planet of the Apes, Ak-Chin Circle Entertainment Center tightened its attendance policy, requiring teens under 18 to be accompanied by parents.
“For the safety and the well-being of our young visitors, all individuals under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian after 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays,” an entertainment center statement then said.
The disclaimer said it is the responsibility of parents or guardians “to supervise minors at all times during their visit to the center.”
The theater fight involved several young people, who left shoes, spilled popcorn and garbage strewn up and down the aisle.
Pinal County Sheriff’s Office deputies took some of the teens out in handcuffs, a source inside the theater said.
