Orange County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a woman on a felony child abuse charge. She allegedly grabbed and injured a 17-year-old girl during an altercation at Disney’s Magic Kingdom on Tuesday night. The incident, which took place near Cinderella Castle, stemmed from a dispute over a spot to watch a parade.
The arrest report states the victim was a 17-year-old girl. She told deputies that Martha Lucia Zapata-Echeverri, 51, grabbed her arm and pushed her. This happened after the teen stood in a spot the woman claimed. The teen showed deputies a bruise and “nail marks” on her arm that she said were a result of the woman’s grabbing.
Zapata-Echeverri, originally from Colombia but a tourist visiting from Spain, gave a different account of the events. She claimed the teenager was the aggressor. Zapata-Echeverri alleged that the teen had been pushing into her. However, deputies sided with the teen’s version after interviewing both parties and reviewing the visible injury.
Following the investigation, deputies arrested Zapata-Echeverri. She was then taken to the Orange County Jail. The incident reminds guests to have patience and respect, especially in high-traffic areas during popular events.
Walt Disney World enforces a strict code of conduct for all guests. Park security and local law enforcement are vigilant in this effort. This unfortunate incident took place in a public area as guests were gathered for a popular nighttime viewing.
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