The wife of U.S. Rep. Darren Soto was arrested at Disney Springs on Sunday on charges of disorderly intoxication according to an arrest report from The Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Cory Heller saw her “holding … her mother by the straps of the backpack she was wearing in an attempt to keep her from walking away,” according report. Amanda Soto, 33, of Celebration, was apparently in an argument with her Mother at the time near the bus loop.
Soto and her mother appeared intoxicated and Heller helped them call an Uber vehicle to take them home. The report states that when the deputy helped Amanda Soto and her mother get into the Uber, Amanda began yelling at her mother, the Uber driver and the law enforcement office.
Heller noted that he attempted to calm her numerous times from her agitated state and she repeatedly said her husband is a congressman, therefore “she could do whatever she wants.”
The deputy escorted them out of the Uber and Soto was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car, where “she began banging [her] head against the window in what appeared to be an attempt to harm herself. Amanda was further restrained for her safety,” Heller stated.
Soto who was elected in 2016 and represents Florida’s ninth district said in a statement said his wife has battled depression and recently stopped using her medications.
“Yesterday, she drank too much and reached an argumentative state with a family member, which led to arrest,’’ the congressman said. “She deeply regrets her actions and takes full responsibility for them. Amanda and her physician will be reviewing her mental health treatment, immediately.’’
According to the jail’s online database she was booked into jail at 10:44 Sunday night. Amanda Soto bonded out of the Orange County Jail early Monday.
This is the second high-profile arrest Walt Disney World made the news for last week. YouTuber Jason Ethier was arrested at the Ticket and Transportation Center outside Magic Kingdom on charges of trespassing and resisting arrest without violence.