A Florida woman was arrested Saturday and charged with child neglect after allegedly abandoning her 12-year-old daughter at a Universal CityWalk bar to go dancing at another establishment nearby.
Background
Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies were called to the Shoreline Bar at Universal CityWalk on Saturday night around 10:30 p.m. after a bar patron witnessed a woman flip off a young girl, tell her "F*** you," and storm out of the establishment.
The patron reported what they had seen to a bartender, who then contacted Universal security. Security personnel called the sheriff's office.
Deputies arrived and found the 12-year-old girl "visibly upset, crying, and sitting alone on a bar stool by the bar," according to an affidavit.
The girl told deputies that her mother, later identified as Amanda Thorpe, was drunk. She said another patron at the bar had "stated something that upset" her mother.
The Charges
According to the affidavit, Thorpe wanted to leave the Shoreline Bar and go to the Red Coconut Club, another bar at CityWalk. The girl told her mother she was tired and wanted to return to their hotel.
At that point, Thorpe "got livid with [the child], displayed the middle finger, said, 'F*** you,' and left the CW Shoreline Bar without" her daughter.
Universal Security located Thorpe at the Red Coconut Club. Deputies responded to that bar and found her on the dance floor, dancing alone with a drink in her hand.
Thorpe initially told deputies she had no idea her daughter was at the Shoreline Bar alone and thought the girl was with her the entire time. She later changed her account, saying she believed her daughter was at their hotel.
The affidavit also notes that Thorpe "spontaneously uttered that she was confused about why she would possibly go to jail, as she had done this before."
A deputy observed that Thorpe "had red, bloodshot eyes, uncontrollable swaying of the body, unbalance while walking, and the scent of fruity purities coming from her breath," which the deputy noted were indications of impairment from alcohol.
Thorpe was booked into the Orange County Jail on a charge of child neglect, a third-degree felony in Florida.
Key Takeaways
- Amanda Thorpe was arrested Saturday and charged with child neglect
- She allegedly left her 12-year-old daughter at the Shoreline Bar to go dancing at the Red Coconut Club
- Thorpe was found on the dance floor at the second bar while visibly intoxicated
- She initially claimed she didn't know her daughter was alone, then changed her story
- Thorpe reportedly said she was confused about going to jail because "she had done this before"
- The girl's grandfather was notified and picked her up
- The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified
What's Next
Thorpe remains in the Orange County Jail pending her first court appearance. The Florida Department of Children and Families will likely pursue further investigation into the welfare of the 12-year-old girl. No information was provided on whether Thorpe has retained legal counsel.