A Lake County woman says she was attacked while waiting for the Mad Tea Party ride at Disney World and Disney's delay in calling sheriff's deputies could keep her alleged attacker from ever facing charges.
Aimee Krause said another patron quickly escalated a dispute over the lineup for the ride.
“I just kept feeling blows to my legs, my breasts, my head. As the punches were coming, I could feel something tightening around my neck. I could feel the clothes tearing and people screaming," Krause said.
As bad as the attack was, Krause said she's more outraged over the way Disney handled the case. She said Disney security delayed calling Orange County Sheriff's deputies for 40 minutes – a lapse she said dramatically impeded the investigation and made it more difficult for her to press charges.
“At least 120 people were there, because I don't know how many people are held in the teacups, but people had already been seated in their teacups,” Kraise said. “It was only myself as that woman attacked me outside of the teacup ride. There was at least, probably, 80 people in line.”
Disney security spoke with people who saw the attack, but allowed them to leave before deputies arrived. Without sworn statements from witnesses, sheriff's office officials told News 13 they couldn't file charges.
"They're supposed to have the witnesses come down to that security office so that they officers, the true law enforcement officers can interview them there. Had they done that or had the statement, Orange County Sheriff's Department could have made an arrest,” Krause said.
Michelle Mauger, a friend of Krause’s, said she witnessed the attack.
"The entire time we're telling them we want Orange County Sheriff's Office, and they said that they would not bring Orange County Sheriff's Office into the park,” Mauger said.
A Disney spokeswoman said the park doesn't limit law enforcement access, but in this case, didn't see an immediate need to call deputies.
Krause and Mauger said it should be the victim's call – not Disney's – on when deputies are summoned.
“They're not safe. They're not safe because they're not following the protocol that they need to make sure that these people are taken care of,” Mauger said.
According to the sheriff's office, the investigation is still open. Deputies are reviewing information documented by Disney security, and may re-interview witnesses to see if charges are warranted.