Tiffany Lee Griffith, Fort Myers, Florida mom arrested ‘forcibly’ dunking young boy underwater for a few seconds causing nose bleed as retaliatory measure to her own child being dunked at 4 star Kissimmee Gaylords Palms Hotel pool.
A Fort Myers, Florida mother accused of forcibly dunking a child underwater for a few seconds in retaliation for her own child being abused, appeared in court on Tuesday where she alleged, ‘I was protecting my son.’
Tiffany Lee Griffith, 36, was arrested Friday afternoon at the Gaylord Palms Hotel pool in Kissimmee just on 4.30 p.m, after police receiving reports of a battery involving a child.
Fort Myers mom leaves 6-year-old boy traumatized and with nose bleed
According to a Facebook release from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office according to witnesses, three children were playing in the pool when the situation turned aggressive. At some point, Griffith became involved after her 6-year-old son was allegedly dunked underwater by a boy of the same age.
Griffith then reportedly entered the pool, confronted the boy, and then put her hands on the child’s shoulders and forcibly dunked him underwater for several seconds.
The victim was apparently visibly shaken and suffering from a nosebleed, and reported the incident to his parents as soon as he exited the pool.
Following the altercation, Griffith reportedly yelled at the victim’s mother before leaving the area. Officers located and arrested Griffith and transported her to the Osceola County jail where she was charged on one count of aggravated child abuse.
During a Tuesday court appearance, the mother defended her actions claiming her 7-year-old son, who is non verbal was being ‘drowned’ by another child in the pool, FOX35 reported.
Griffith told detectives at the time of her arrest, she ‘was protecting my son.’
Surveillance video played during court from the hotel showed the parent entering the pool and submerging 6-year-old victim from behind, forcibly holding down on his shoulders. The incident left the boy traumatized and with a nose bleed.
Bond was set at $20K.
