WEST PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— A Luzerne County mother is facing criminal charges after police say she drove her child to fight another child.
The fight happened at a local park last week and police say that kind of behavior has consequences.
In this video, you will soon seen what a mother doesn't do while her son beats up another kid at a Luzerne County park.
Firefighter found burning in Hazleton had also been shot
The mom, now facing several charges for her willingness to make the fight happen and lack of action during it.
A body slam to the ground and several strikes to the face.
These two teen boys squared off at Bainbridge Campbell Park in West Pittston last Friday in video obtained by 28/22 News.
But what police say is most concerning about this fight is this woman, Johnette Minardi, who's standing in the background does nothing to intervene.
She's this boy's mom and according to police she drove him to the park to fight the other boy.
"To bring your child here is outrageous," said Ted Lasher, West Pittston.
Ted lasher, a father to four children, was at the park on thursday with his kids.
His oldest daughter told me she had heard about the fight, but when I showed lasher the video he was disappointed in what he had seen.
"There's enough violence in the world. We don't need to be encouraging anymore," expressed lasher.
"Knowing that he was going to fight another kid and to stand there and watch your son physically fight a kid is very concerning," voiced Chief Michael Turner, Wyoming Area Regional Police Department.
According to the affidavit Minardi told police the boy her son was beating up was making fun of her for being gay and taking inappropriate videos of girls.
She told police that made her son mad and she took him to the park to fight.
"The first line of defense can't be violence. We can't be teaching our kids to fight," said Turner.
Chief Turner says fortunately neither of the boys in the fight sustained serious injuries but this type of juvenile violence has become alarming.
"That's something that is being looked at both the local and state level and something that needs to be addressed," expressed Turner.
And lasher feels parents have to set the example for their kids.
"Even if you are a parent that doesn't know how to do that, find a good organization, find a good club, find a team to get that kid to belong to so they can find different role models to learn different lessons from," added Lasher.
Minradi faces several charges including corruption of minors, criminal conspiracy engaging and endangering welfare of children.
Her preliminary hearing is set for May 20 at 9:00 a.m.
