A 41-year-old woman was arrested Monday after deputies say she encouraged her children to assault a 10-year-old boy during a disturbance at a local apartment complex.
Osceola County Sheriff’s deputies responded Monday to the Heritage Park Apartment Complex following reports of a fight involving multiple juveniles at a community park.
According to witnesses and the child victim, a physical altercation began between two groups of children who had been playing at the park. After the initial confrontation, one group left the area and returned with their mothers.
Deputies say two women — identified as the mothers of children involved in the earlier dispute — began arguing with several of the children.
During the confrontation, one of the women, identified as Ketsy Ann Rivera allegedly pushed her two children, ages 8 and 9, toward the 10-year-old victim and instructed them to hit him, according to sheriff’s reports.
Reports said Rivera then grabbed the victim by his shirt, preventing him from leaving or defending himself while the fight continued. The child suffered noticeable swelling to his left eye. The victim’s mother arrived at the scene and requested that charges be filed.
Osceola County Fire Rescue responded to evaluate the child and determined he did not suffer serious injuries. Rivera was arrested and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, child abuse without great bodily harm and false imprisonment. She was booked into the Osceola County Jail under $500 bond.
