A former law enforcement officer in Florida, who once gave school talks condemning bullying, has been arrested for the alleged aggravated abuse of a six-year-old boy at a hotel swimming pool.
Violent Retaliation at Orlando Hotel Pool
Tiffany Lee Griffith, 36, from Fort Myers, was taken into custody on 19 December following a disturbing incident at the Gaylord Palms Hotel in Orlando. According to a police report obtained by local media, Griffith is accused of holding the young child underwater for "several seconds" as an act of retaliation.
Investigators state the alleged assault occurred after Griffith believed the boy had been repeatedly dunking her own eight-year-old son, who she said has autism. Security footage reportedly shows Griffith wading over to the victim and holding him down for approximately two to three seconds.
From Anti-Bullying Advocate to Defendant
The case has drawn significant attention due to Griffith's professional background. She previously served with the Punta Gorda Police Department from 2013 to 2018 under the name Tiffany Lee Viola. During her tenure, she worked as a school resource officer and was even named employee of the quarter in 2016.
Online records show Griffith speaking to high school freshmen at Charlotte High School about the dangers of bullying and sexting, making the alleged crime a stark contradiction to her past public stance.
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
After the alleged dunking, the six-year-old victim got out of the pool "visibly upset" and with a bleeding nose, authorities confirmed. Griffith then allegedly screamed at the boy's mother before leaving the pool area.
She was later booked at the Osceola County Jail on a charge of aggravated child abuse. At a pretrial release hearing, her husband testified that she feared for her son's safety. Griffith was released on a $20,000 bond on Tuesday, 24 December.
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office is continuing its investigation into the matter, which has raised serious questions about the conduct of a former officer entrusted with protecting the public and educating children.
