MAGIC MOUNTAIN OPEN FOLLOWING TENSE NIGHT.

Byline: Daily News

Magic Mountain reopened as normal Sunday after closing early the previous night because of rowdy behavior by groups of youths.

Sixty deputies, from as far as Lancaster and Crescenta Valley, and a helicopter were sent to the amusement park about 8:30 p.m. Saturday after local deputies on routine patrol requested help, officials said.

``They could see the crowd was becoming unruly,'' Deputy Victor Lewandoski explained Sunday. ``It was just escalating.''

Some park visitors called authorities to report gunfire, but the deputies there saw and heard none, officials said. Groups of youths were running through the park, harassing and intimidating other visitors, officials said.

Deputies began helping move out visitors and shut down the park about 9 p.m., an hour before its usual Saturday closing time, officials said.

Deputies arrested 11 people Saturday at the park, but nine of those arrests came hours before the extra deputies were called in. Nine people were arrested about 1 p.m. on suspicion of misdemeanor battery after a fight between two groups of visitors, Lewandoski said.

Another person was arrested later on suspicion of battery, and one person was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a peace officer about the time authorities began closing the park, Lewandoski said.

In April, a 15-year-old Fontana boy was killed and two other park guests wounded in a parking lot shooting blamed on a dispute between two groups of gang members. All three victims were innocent bystanders, deputies said.

Along with the trouble, the park also has come under criticism for its screening policies intended to keep out gang members, with parkgoers complaining that they were singled out unfairly.