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Saturday, November 21, 2009   47º F

Updated 06/18/2009 06:34 PM

Police say woman encouraged youth fights

By: Web Staff

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. -- YouTube videos and witness statements lead Amsterdam police to a woman they say encouraged and enabled two different fights.

Police started investigating after they heard a large group of kids gathered to watch two young sisters fight another girl last week at the Arnold Avenue playground. Investigators say they later found out that Yara Maldonado, 45, encouraged that fight and another and even kept other adults from stepping in.

The fights were put on YouTube, but police didn't say whether Maldonado had anything to do with that.

Maldonado's charged with two misdemeanors, including child endangerment. She's set to appear in court Tuesday.