Stephanie Pedroso (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office) and authorities outside the Astro Skate where she allegedly incited a 500-person riot (WTVT screenshot)
A 36-year-old mother in Florida has been arrested after police say she intentionally incited a 400 to 500 person riot at a local skating rink after the business canceled her teen daughter’s birthday party for breach of contract.
Stephanie Pedroso was taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with one count each of inciting a riot, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and driving with a license suspended, canceled, or revoked, authorities announced.
“Using social media to weaponize our youth is absolutely deplorable,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “As a parent, I cannot fathom what went through this woman’s mind when she put lives at risk to provoke this mayhem.”
According to a news release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies at about 9:20 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, responded to a call from an off-duty deputy who reported that about 500 people were at the Astro Skate in Brandon, Florida, and that several fights had already broken out. The business is about 245 miles northwest of Miami.
Upon arriving at the scene, multiple deputies took nearly six hours to contain the melee, which resulted in the arrests of 23 juveniles and three adults for “the escalation of chaos at the scene.” Additionally, the sheriff’s office said that one person was injured and five local businesses were damaged during the riot.
