(L-R) Virginia Terrazas, Marisol Terrazas and Antonio Medina
Photos: Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office
Both Virginia and Marisol Terrazas were charged with multiple felonies stemming from Sunday's incident at Rodeo event in Florida.
By H. Nelson Goodson
November 13, 2012
Okeechobee, FL - On Monday, both Virginia "Vicky" Terrazas, 32, of Palos Park, IL and Marisol Terrazas, 36, of Lemont, IL, the lead singers for Los Horóscopos de Durango were freed from the Okeechobee County jail after spending the night in jail and posting bail. The Terrazas' sisters were taken into custody on Sunday night for inciting a riot during a Mexican rodeo dance and event, according to the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office (OCSO). Virginia was charged with three felonies counts for battery to a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence and inciting a riot. Marisol was charged with two felony counts for inciting a riot and resisting arrest without violence. Marisol's bail was set at $31,000 and Virginia's bail was set at $70,000 and both are expected back in court on December 12.
Virginia's boyfriend, Antonio Medina, 20, of Chicago, IL was also arrested and charged with one felony count of battery on a law enforcement officer.
The Terrazas' sisters left for Illinois on Monday and would not comment further about the arrests, according to their group management.
The Terrazas sisters were taken into custody after a scuffle broke out between a private security officer and a fan at the Agi-Civic Center on Sunday night when they were performing their first song.
The Okeechobee County District Attorney's Office is reviewing Sunday's night incident to see, if additional charges will be issued.
Marisol was arrested for shouting vulgarities to Deputies during a dance scuffle and Virginia for kicking a Deputy in the groin after he grabbed her while she attempted to keep Marisol from being detained. Medina was arrested for grabbing a Deputy, "at which the officer was sruck in the head with a can full of beer," Michele Bell, the OCSO Public Information Officer wrote in a news release.
Los Horóscopos de Durango had just began their first song and set when a scuffle erupted in the dance floor around 8:00 p.m. on Sunday. Bell in the news release stated, that there were 1,600 people in attendance when a fight between hired private security personnel and a patron erupted. Sheriff Deputies stepped in to help security to break up the scuffle.
Marisol stopped singing and began to curse the officers over a loud speakers, which showed an immediate effect of aggressive behavior from the crowd. She was ordered to stop or she would be arrested. She dared the officers to come up on stage and arrest her.
Deputies at the dance floor began to grab and push people around in the immediate area to control the crowd, according to fan video images taken and posted on YouTube.
Marisol from the stage told the Deputies and security to stop pushing and roughing up people (Mexicans) at the dance floor. A fan was tased by a security officer, triggering Marisol to insult the officers in both Spanish and English language vulgarities prompting Deputies to go up on stage and attempt to arrest Marisol, including her sister.
Fans then began to throw cans of beer and debris at Deputies on stage.
Both Marisol and Virginia fled from the stage and were later apprehended in a vehicle while attempting to leave the area.
The crowd exited the arena area and began to follow officers escorting the Terrazas' to a patrol car. The crowd also began to throw cans of beer, water bottles and drinks. At no time did either of the Terrazas sisters say or do anything to help stop or resolve the violent situation. A security officer was able to identify Luis Maldonado, as the suspect that hit an officer in the head with a can of beer, according to Bell. Maldonado, 25, of Port St. Lucie, FL was charged with aggravated battery to a law enforcement officer.
Sheriff Paul C. May phrased his Deputies for doing an outstanding job while facing the situation on Sunday. Sheriff May said, "I regret this happened in our County, but please do not take this as an apology for my Deputies' action. They did what they had to do to control the situation; there were approximately 1,600 people in attendance and large amounts of alcohol consumed. There were 8 Deputies on duty along with private security to control the crowd. There were 5 arrests after the fighting started. There were no injuries to patrons that we know off. One Deputy was struck in the groin and the head with a beer can and several more were hit with cans."
None of the Deputies suffered injuries that would keep them from returning to duty.
Luis Maldonado
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