Hundreds Gathered In ‘Violent Disturbance’ At FL Astro Skate: Sheriff

BRANDON, FL — A crowd of 400 to 500 people gathered for “a violent disturbance” in the parking lot of Astro Skate in Brandon on Saturday night, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office news release.

The group “created chaos in the parking lot of Astro Skate in Brandon, by fighting, causing damage to nearby businesses, stealing and disrupting normal business operations,” the sheriff’s office said.

The agency received a call from an off-duty deputy at the roller skating rink about the large crowd around 9:20 p.m.

The fight broke out after a planned after party was canceled, HCSO said. Astro Skate requires those hosting private parties to hire an off-duty deputy for the event, which the group didn’t do. Because of this, the party was canceled and their money was refunded.

The group went on social media asking people to come to Astro Skate “and riot at the business and confront law enforcement,” which led to a larger crowd gathering in the parking lot, the sheriff’s office said.

A smaller group broke away from the crowd and attacked a juvenile inside the nearby Time Out Barber Shop. The victim was beaten and thrown through the shop's plate-glass window. He was brought to Tampa General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including a severe cut on his hand.

Another group entered a convenience store, causing more than $500 worth of damage to wine bottles and stealing an undetermined amount of merchandise, the sheriff’s office said.

Though deputies gave the crowd multiple warnings, telling them to leave, they wouldn’t comply.

Twenty-three juveniles and six adults were arrested by the sheriff’s office. The adults were booked into Orient Road Jail, while the juveniles were transferred to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

"I am outraged by the violent and disruptive behavior that targeted hard-working people and businesses, creating chaos in our community. Let me make this unequivocally clear: this violent and detrimental behavior will never, under any circumstances, be tolerated in Hillsborough County," Sheriff Chad Chronister said.