Former officer charged with aggravated child abuse after hotel pool incident
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The woman accused of forcibly holding a 6-year-old boy underwater at a Florida hotel is a former law enforcement officer who once spoke to students about the dangers of bullying, according to reports.
Tiffany Lee Griffith, 36, of Fort Myers, was arrested earlier this month and charged with aggravated child abuse following the alleged incident at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said the incident occurred shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 19, while three children were playing in the resort’s pool.
Investigators said a 6-year-old boy allegedly dunked Griffith’s son into the water, prompting Griffith to enter the pool and confront him.
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Tiffany Lee Griffith, 36, was arrested and charged with felony child abuse. (Osceola County Sheriff’s Office)
“The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Tiffany Lee Griffith of Fort Myers, allegedly dunked her 6-year-old son in the water, then entered the pool and yelled at the 6-year-old boy,” the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said. “The suspect then placed his hands on the victim’s shoulders and forcibly submerged him in the water for several seconds.”
The child was seen leaving the pool sadly and with a bleeding nose. He later told his family about the incident, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Griffith then yelled at the boy’s mother before fleeing the area. Deputies later found and arrested Griffith, authorities said.
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Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center (Google Maps)
Griffith later told police he was a former law enforcement officer. She worked for the Punta Gorda Police Department under the name Tiffany Lee Viola from 2013 to 2018. He told WPBF 25 News.
He reportedly served as a resource officer at the school during his tenure.
Posts on the Punta Gorda Police Department Facebook page show Griffith teaching students about topics such as bullying, sexting and internet safety, WPBF 25 News reported.
“He teaches a course that educates high school freshmen about the negative consequences of bullying and sexting, as well as common crimes that involve high school students as perpetrators or victims,” a department post stated.
Griffith was also recognized as the department’s Regional Worker in 2016, according to WPBF 25 News.
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Griffith was booked into the Osceola County Jail and later released on $20,000 bail. (Getty Images)
According to WPBF 25 News, Griffith was booked into the Osceola County Jail and later released on $20,000 bail.
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The Punta Gorda Police Department, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and Gaylord Hotels did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
