A former American police officer is facing a potential prison sentence after being charged with child abuse for holding a six-year-old boy's head underwater in a resort swimming pool.
Incident at a Florida Resort
The alleged assault occurred last Friday at the four-star Gaylord Palms Hotel in Kissimmee, Florida. Tiffany Lee Griffith, 36, was on holiday with her family and watching her seven-year-old son, who is autistic and non-verbal, play in the pool.
According to a police report, her son was playing with two other children who were 'aggressively splashing' each other. The situation escalated when one of the children, a six-year-old boy, allegedly dunked Griffith's son underwater.
Alleged Retaliation and Arrest
Police allege that Griffith then jumped into the pool and began yelling at the boy. She is accused of then placing her hands on the child's shoulders and forcibly holding his head underwater for several seconds.
Security camera footage, reviewed by the court, reportedly shows the act lasting between two and four seconds. Witnesses stated the young victim was 'visibly upset' and left the pool with a nosebleed. Griffith is said to have yelled at the boy's mother before departing the pool area.
Osceola County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene around 4.30pm and detained Griffith. She reportedly insisted she was acting in defence of her autistic son.
Court Hearing and Background
Griffith appeared before Osceola County Court in Florida on Tuesday. Her initial charge of aggravated child abuse was reduced to a single count of child abuse. She was released after posting a $20,000 bond.
The court imposed strict bail conditions, including:
- No contact with the six-year-old boy or his parents.
- A complete ban on consuming alcohol.
- Staying away from the Gaylord Palms resort.
During the bail hearing, Griffith's husband testified in her defence. He claimed the other child had dunked their son more than once, prompting his wife to intervene and separate them.
It was revealed that Griffith, who previously used her maiden name Viola, served as a police officer with the Punta Gorda Police Department from 2013 to 2018. In her role as a school resource officer, she appeared in anti-bullying videos and was once named employee of the quarter.
The case continues, with Griffith potentially facing jail time if convicted.
