Police investigate a fight in Disneyland after video surfaces

LOS ANGELES >> A recently released video capturing a family's fight in Disneyland this weekend has prompted police to reopen its investigation of the fight, the authorities announced today.

The officers were called to the theme park on Saturday to help break up the fray, which began between a brother and sister, but quickly involved other family members, the police sergeant of Anaheim . Daron Wyatt said.

The video, which attracted attention after being posted on YouTube on Sunday, shows a woman appearing to spit in her brother's face in Mickey's neighborhood in Toontown. This quickly degenerated into blows and tearing of hair while several people were hit on the ground for nearly five minutes.

Other family members intervened, as well as passers-by who tried to break the fight. The video showed that it took several minutes for the Disneyland security to react. Park visitors called for help amidst the cries and screams of the children.

Anaheim police arrived after the conflict ended, Wyatt said. Family members refused to cooperate with the authorities and were escorted out of Disneyland property.

"Any kind of violence is inexcusable and will not be tolerated," Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Liz Jaeger said in an email. "The people involved were immediately removed from the premises and handed over to the Anaheim Police Department."

Police took an initial report but could not move forward without the cooperation of the family, said Wyatt. Once the agents have viewed the video, they have reopened the file and will work with prosecutors to determine whether charges should be laid, such as peace disruption, domestic violence and assault.

Mike Lyster, a spokesman for the city's prosecutor's office, said it was too early to think about the filing of charges and that the police department should complete its investigation.

The police do not know what motivated the fight. No injuries have been reported.