O’Keefe Ranch ups security after corn maze incident

Oct 24, 2016 | 12:09 PM

VERNON, B.C. — The O’Keefe Ranch will be increasing security measures for its haunted corn maze after an incident management is calling isolated.
 
Manager Glen Taylor says one of the ranch’s actors suffered a broken hand after being hit by a male with a crutch.
 
Taylor says security will be beefed up for the event which continues Tuesday through Saturday nights from 6 to 10pm.
 
“We have bumped up security, we are adding more security cameras, more signage, and we will be doing pat -downs if we suspect they may be trying to smuggle in alcohol or anything like that.”

RCMP are investigating the incident, which some media reports say involved eight drunk young men who punched, kicked and threatened several actors.

Taylor says those reports are on social media but he can’t confirm if they are accurate — all he knows about is the one incident where the actor was hit in the hand.
 
Taylor says it was an isolated incident.
 
“Oh definitely. We had 1,950 people go through that night and everybody came out of there laughing and having a great time. And then you had this one thing, and it just spoiled it for everybody,” he tells Kiss FM.
 
Taylor says they have been getting lots of calls and emails from the public.
 
“Saying how awful this is, but they support what we’re doing out here and anything they can do to help, so we are getting a lot of community support, and I just want to say thank you to those people,” says Taylor.
 
The heritage attraction in Spallumcheen is owned by the City of Vernon and is run by a non profit society.