Arrest and Denial
Stephanie Pedroso, a 36-year-old Florida mother, has been arrested and charged with inciting a riot at Astro Skate in Brandon after the venue canceled her daughter’s birthday party. Pedroso vehemently denies any involvement in the chaos, insisting it had “nothing to do with my daughter’s birthday party being canceled.”
Incident Background
The riot occurred on May 17, following the rink’s decision to cancel Pedroso’s event due to a breach of contract. Despite being issued a refund the day before, Pedroso allegedly used social media to encourage her daughter’s friends to show up and “tear this bitch up.” The resulting mayhem took police six hours to control, leading to the arrests of 23 minors and six adults, and causing damage to five local businesses.
Skating Rink’s Stance
Astro Skate owner Chris Maganias contends that such incidents are rare in his 43 years of business and places the blame squarely on Pedroso. He explained that Pedroso had rented the rink after hours for what was initially believed to be an elementary school-aged party, but later promoted it as a “teen dance,” charging $15 per person without the rink’s approval.
Contract Violations
Maganias highlighted multiple violations of the contract by Pedroso, including unapproved advertising, selling tickets at a higher price than agreed, and failing to hire off-duty deputies for the event. These breaches led to the cancellation of the party and the subsequent refund.
Legal Proceedings
Pedroso faces charges of inciting a riot, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and driving with a suspended, canceled, or revoked license. Despite the charges, she remains confident that the allegations will be disproven in court, stating, “It’ll be proven in court that it’s false.”
Statements from Authorities and Community Impact
Authorities have pointed to social media posts from party organizers that incited the riot, encouraging people to meet at Astro Skate and rebel against the business and law enforcement. The community is left dealing with the aftermath of the six-hour riot, which caused significant disruption and damage.
