A fight between two high school students at a bus stop in Flagler County took a shocking turn when a mother, instead of intervening, joined the brawl, putting one of the juveniles in a headlock and escalating the situation.
The incident, which occurred on August 15, led to the arrest of 34-year-old Kathryn Stephanopoulos of Bunnell, who now faces serious charges.
On Thursday, August 15, deputies responded to an altercation at a bus stop near Mahogany Boulevard and Honeytree Street in Daytona North involving two Flagler Palm Coast High School students. The two juveniles, who had a falling out over the summer, engaged in a mutually agreed-upon fight as soon as they exited the bus.
One of the juveniles’ mothers, who had been informed by her child about the impending fight, was present at the bus stop. Instead of intervening to break up the fight, the mother joined the brawl. At one point, she reportedly placed the other juvenile in a headlock, restricting the child’s breathing.
While the mother was fighting with the original juvenile, her own child started a second fight with another student who had been trying to intervene. Once that altercation ended, the mother’s child argued with her and struck her in the face with a metal cup.
On Monday, August 19, 34-year-old Kathryn Stephanopoulos of Bunnell was arrested and taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility for her role in the incident. As part of the investigation, deputies obtained video footage recorded by a bystander. One juvenile was charged with Aggravated Battery, and misdemeanor charges for the other juvenile have been forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office.
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“Instead of de-escalating the situation, we have a mother who joined in the fray, setting a bad example for her child and those at the bus stop,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “She certainly won’t receive mother of the year with her actions. Parents need to set the example and not be part of the problem. Luckily, no one was seriously injured, but now a mother is facing serious charges for losing control of her temper.”
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