What was supposed to be a magical night at Walt Disney World turned into a legal nightmare for one tourist after an altercation during a crowded parade viewing landed her in handcuffs.
Martha Lucia Zapata-Echeverri, 51, a Spanish tourist originally from Colombia, was arrested at Disney’s Magic Kingdom on Monday, July 21, for allegedly shoving a 17-year-old girl while trying to secure a better spot to view the park’s nighttime parade.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies were called to Main Street, U.S.A. around 9:40 p.m. for a disturbance between the two. The teen, whose name has not been released, told police she was standing on the sidewalk near Cinderella’s Castle when Zapata-Echeverri placed her hand on her while trying to squeeze in. The teen asked her—politely and in Spanish—not to touch her.
But things escalated quickly. Zapata-Echeverri allegedly grabbed the teen by the arm and yanked her aside, leaving behind a visible bruise and abrasion, according to deputies. The teen also had nail marks on her arm, the affidavit noted.
Zapata-Echeverri told a very different story, claiming the teen had pushed her first and that she was merely following her daughter through the crowd to watch the parade. When questioned by deputies, she offered a vague pantomime of a pushing motion, but no clear explanation for the teen’s injuries.
Deputies determined that the teen was the only one hurt during the incident. There were no independent witnesses and no surveillance footage available to back up either version of the story.
Zapata-Echeverri, who arrived in Florida on a tourist visa earlier this month, appeared in court the following day. Her bond was set at $2,500, and the judge issued a strict order barring her from entering any Disney property. Her attorney said she was scheduled to return to Spain on July 23.
Reps for Walt Disney World have not commented on the incident. What should’ve been a dream vacation ended with a mugshot—and a ban from the happiest place on earth.
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Author: thedailycrime1
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