Dad Found Guilty In Canobie Lake Fight Over Knife Ban

BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) — A Vermont man was convicted Wednesday on several charges following a fracas last summer that erupted when his family was told they couldn't carry knives into a New Hampshire amusement park.

E. Alan Perry, 46, of Lyndon, was found guilty of inciting riot, criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was found not guilty of assault.

The Perry family tried to enter Canobie Lake Park in Salem last June, some of them with knives on their belts. Security told them the knives were prohibited, and authorities say the family became belligerent.

When two Salem police officers arrived to quell the disturbance, the family got angrier, yelling profanities at the police and in front of other visitors, including children, authorities said.

After several warnings, an officer told one of Perry's sons he was under arrest and tried to handcuff him, leading to a melee that injured two officers, including one who was treated at a hospital for a dislocated shoulder, authorities said. Police said family members jumped on the backs of the officers, punching, kicking and grabbing for their weapons.

As backup officers arrived, the mother of the family faked a seizure, police said. She was examined by paramedics and released at the scene.

Two sons, Joshua and Brian Perry, have been indicted by a grand jury. Another son, Damian, and daughter, Ashley, were fined.