Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom settles lawsuit over alleged profiling by security officers
Leigh County PA May 4 2019 Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom’s parent company has settled a lawsuit by a black Philadelphia man who claimed security officers racially profiled him, telling him he matched the description of a pickpocket and then escorting him out of the park, court records show.
The lawsuit, filed in June, alleged Benjamin Slater was at the South Whitehall Township amusement park with friends on June 17 when a security guard approached him and demanded he empty his pockets, which contained his wallet, cellphone and keys. He was then escorted to a security office, where local police officers were waiting.
Although it was determined that Slater, a teacher in Philadelphia, was not a suspect, he was still removed from the park. The lawsuit alleged it was because Dorney Park trains its security officers to detain black customers when any black person is suspected of an infraction.
In its answer to the lawsuit, Dorney Park said Slater became loud, profane and abusive when the officer approached him and that he was removed from the park for causing a disturbance.
The amount of the settlement is not disclosed in court records. A letter from Slater’s attorney to U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry S. Perkin in February indicated Slater had originally sought $1 million but was willing to settle for $500,000.
A spokeswoman for Dorney Park, which is owned by Ohio-based Cedar Fair, said the company would not comment on the settlement.
Spokeswoman Tana Korpics did say that after a settlement conference Tuesday, “Dorney Park Vice President and General Manager Mike Fehnel and Mr. Slater had a productive one-on-one conversation which ended on good terms.”
Slater’s lawyer said he would not discuss the settlement.
The lawsuit said Slater and his girlfriend arrived at Dorney Park that morning expecting a day of fun.
“Instead of roller coasters and other rides, [Slater] spent his day on the carousel of Cedar Fair’s racism against African Americans and disdain for persons of color,” the lawsuit alleged.
The suit claims security officer Adam Orsulak approached Slater with his hand on his gun holster, told Slater his pockets were bulging and demanded to see what was in them. After Slater emptied his pockets, Orsulak told Slater he matched the description of a person seen stealing wallets and other items from park patrons, according to the lawsuit.
The suit says that while Slater was detained at the park security office with a South Whitehall Township police officer, park officials found and detained the person who had stolen other customers’ belongings. Nonetheless, Slater was escorted from the park and banned for six months.
Dorney Park said in its answer to the suit that Orsulak confronted Slater because another customer accused Slater of going through patrons’ personal belongings. It denied that Orsulak targeted Slater because of his race or that he threatened Slater with a gun.
Orsulak was justified in taking Slater to the park office because of the disturbance he caused, Dorney Park claimed.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Schmehl filed an order Tuesday dismissing the case, stating he had been informed by the parties they had reached a settlement. A trial had been scheduled for August.
Morning Call
