Finnish National Confronts Mother and Baby in Heated Dog Dispute
A 54-year-old Finnish woman is facing deportation from the United States after allegedly throwing coffee on a mother, her 11-month-old baby and their Dalmatian dog during a confrontation in Florida. The incident has exposed her illegal immigration status spanning more than two decades.
Nina Kristina Jaaskelainen stands accused of hurling the hot beverage at Kelly Brisell and her family in New Smyrna, located northeast of Orlando, on November 14. The confrontation began when Brisell was walking her five-year-old Dalmatian, Ponce, without a leash near the Finnish woman's property.
The Off-Leash Dispute That Sparked International Incident
Brisell explained to FOX35 Orlando: "I walk him every day off-leash. All the neighbours know him. He's a friendly dog, but he was sniffing at her gate, and she didn't like that." According to police reports, Jaaskelainen demanded the mother put her dog on a leash, claiming her own dog might become agitated.
When Brisell responded that she didn't have a leash with her, the situation escalated dramatically. A police affidavit noted that although Ponce was off-leash, the animal was "following closely alongside the mother and son" at the time of the incident.
Brisell described the tense encounter to WESH 2 News: "She started screaming at us. I ignored her. She kept saying it, and I said, 'I don't have a leash,' and kept walking. Then she looked at Ponce, walked up and threw her coffee on him."
Coffee Attack Captured on Video
The mother stated that the neighbour then threw the remaining coffee on both her and the baby. "It was all over my clothes, and all over him," Brisell recounted. "It was over his eyes, nose and temple. Thank God the coffee wasn't hot."
Brisell immediately recorded video footage of the aftermath, which shows Jaaskelainen holding a large, empty coffee mug. In the disturbing footage, the Finnish woman can be seen mocking the mother by pretending to cry after Brisell states: "You just threw coffee on a child."
Earlier in the video, Jaaskelainen can be heard saying, "It's too bad for him if it's not on a leash because he already killed one dog," while motioning to her own dog, which appeared to be a pit bull or similar breed.
Two Decades of Illegal Residence Uncovered
Following Brisell's report of the alleged assault, police arrested Jaaskelainen on charges of battery and domestic violence. The investigation that followed uncovered a startling revelation: Jaaskelainen had been living in the United States illegally since 1999, when she originally entered on a tourist visa and simply never left.
In a statement on Monday, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed: "For over two decades, Jaaskelainen has been in our country illegally, skirting the law without consequence. Now, a baby, a mother, and a dog have been assaulted by her."
McLaughlin added: "President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow illegal aliens to terrorize American citizens."
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged an arrest detainer against Jaaskelainen and plans to deport her back to Finland. Officers who responded to the incident observed dry coffee stains on the mother, baby and Dalmatian, corroborating Brisell's account.
Although Jaaskelainen admitted to throwing coffee on the dog, she denied intentionally targeting the mother or baby. She pleaded not guilty to her charges on November 19, with the reservation that a motion to dismiss might be filed at a later date.
