Incident happened at Disney during the fireworks celebration
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Authorities in Florida say a woman is accused of child abuse after choking a teenager who refused to sit down during a fireworks display at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
An Orange County Sheriff’s arrest report says 41-year-old Tabbatha Kay Mature of New Baltimore, Michigan, was sitting with her family Wednesday night, waiting for the nightly fireworks display. The teen, who was visiting the park with friends, stood up when the show started, blocking the Mature family’s view.
The Orlando Sentinel reports Mature “became aggravated” when they wouldn’t sit down. The girl and her friends decided to leave. Deputies say she told Mature, “You can take our spot.”
That’s when deputies say Mature wrapped her hands around the girl’s neck and squeezed. She wasn’t injured.
She was booked into the Orange County Jail and was released on $2,000 bond.
According to an Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, the girl and other students from her high school were at the Magic Kingdom, and when the nightly fireworks display began, they stood up.
Mature’s family was behind them and insisted that they sit down.
Mature “became aggravated,” according to the report, and the girl and her friends decided to leave.
As she walked away, the girl said she told Mature, “You can take our spot.”
Mature’s response?
“She wrapped both hands around my neck and began squeezing,” the girl told a deputy.
When the student started screaming, Mature released her and said, “You don’t want to mess with me,” according to the girl.
The girl suffered no visible injuries, according to the report, but phoned her mother and both agreed to prosecute, the report said.
There were no other reports of trouble at the park on Thursday night and this seemed to be an isolated incident.
