July 14th 2024.
In Tampa, Florida, a woman found herself in a precarious situation after being arrested for sparking a riot outside of a popular skating rink. The chaos ensued after the business made the decision to cancel a party that was requested by the woman, Stephanie Pedroso.
According to reports from WTSP, the staff at Astro Skate had to cancel an 18th birthday party that was planned for Pedroso's daughter in May. This was due to the fact that the number of guests invited had grown significantly and the rink was unable to accommodate such a large crowd. In addition, Pedroso had also failed to hire police officers for the event, which was a breach of their contract. As a result, the skating rink refunded her money.
But things took a turn for the worse when the owner of the rink, Chris Maganias, accused Pedroso of reselling tickets and promoting the party as something that was not suitable for children. He also claimed that Pedroso had threatened to show up at the rink despite the cancellation. Maganias explained, "We had every right to cancel her party, especially because of the kind of content she was planning, like a booty contest. That's just not something we support. She came in, causing a scene, cursing and yelling, and then went on social media to spread false information about coming to the rink the next night."
According to police, Pedroso took to her daughter's Instagram account and encouraged others to join her in a riot and confront law enforcement. In a video, she can be heard saying, "If you all still go up there, tear the f*** out of them. I'll even pay you for it."
On May 18, between 400 and 500 people showed up to join Pedroso at the skating rink. The situation quickly spiraled out of control and resulted in damages of over $1,500 to surrounding businesses. A 16-year-old was also injured after allegedly being thrown through the glass window of a nearby barber shop.
As a result, Pedroso was arrested by Hillsborough County police for inciting the riot. Twenty-six others, mostly minors, were also detained. Pedroso's charges included unlawful use of a two-way communications device and driving with a suspended license. The county's sheriff, Chad Chronister, expressed his disappointment in Pedroso's actions and her use of social media to promote violence.
During a press conference on July 11, Chronister stated, "Using social media to weaponize our youth is absolutely deplorable. As a parent, I cannot even imagine what was going through this woman's mind when she put lives at risk to incite this mayhem."
He continued, "Let me be clear, using social media to encourage people to riot and destroy businesses is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Hillsborough County. This is a stark reminder of how quickly situations can escalate and the importance of responsible behavior. The consequences of inciting violence are serious."
If found guilty of inciting a riot, Pedroso could face a five-year jail sentence due to the stricter laws in Florida. This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers and consequences of promoting violence through social media. Let us all strive to be responsible and respectful members of our community.
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