PALMETTO - A Bay Area mother has been arrested for her daughter's afterschool fight, video of which was posted on YouTube for all the world to see.

Police say the woman played a key role in this fight.

In the video, you can see a crowd of about two dozen kids surrounding the girls as they throw punches at one another. You can also hear them yelling the girls' names and cheering them on.

The fight happened last Friday, in an open field at Emerson Point in Palmetto. Investigators say both teens are students at Palmetto High School.

Investigators aren't sure yet what started the brawl, but they say everyone seemed to know when and where it was going to happen -- including the mother of one of the girls, April Newcomb.

Investigators say the 39-year-old did nothing to stop the fight. In fact, they say she encouraged her 16-year-old daughter, even shouting and egging her on from the sidelines.

"Sometimes kids do stupid things. But you look to the parent to kind of bring everything back to where it should be. But in this case, obviously, that didn't happen," said Dave Bristow of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. "It's just unbelievable that a parent would sit and watch their child involved in something like this."

Newcomb is now in jail on a $15,000 bond. She's charged with child abuse, which is a third-degree felony. If she's convicted, she could face prison time.

When the other girl's mother got wind of the fight, she showed up, and investigators say that's when the fight ended. They say she confronted Newcomb and asked, "How can you allow this to happen?"

Investigators wanted to know too.

When they asked why she didn't stop the fight, investigators say Newcomb stated, "I can't say."