A woman facing charges for allegedly holding a young boy underwater at a Florida hotel pool is a former police officer known for addressing students on the impact of bullying, sources reveal.
Tiffany Lee Griffith, aged 36 and residing in Fort Myers, was taken into custody earlier this month. She faces a charge of aggravated child abuse following the incident at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, as reported by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
The alleged event took place around 4:30 p.m. on December 19th, involving three children who were playing in the pool at the resort.
Authorities report that the situation escalated when a 6-year-old boy purportedly dunked Griffith’s son underwater, leading her to intervene.
Tiffany Lee Griffith, aged 36, has been detained and charged with aggravated child abuse. (Courtesy of Osceola County Sheriff’s Office)
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office stated, “The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Tiffany Lee Griffith from Fort Myers, entered the pool and confronted a 6-year-old boy after he allegedly submerged her son. She then placed her hands on the boy’s shoulders and forcibly pushed him underwater for several seconds.”
The child left the pool visibly upset and had a nosebleed. He then told his parents about the incident, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Griffith then yelled at the boy’s mother before leaving the area. Deputies later located and arrested Griffith, authorities said.
The Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center (Google Maps)
Griffith later told police she was a former law enforcement officer. She worked for the Punta Gorda Police Department from 2013 to 2018 under the name Tiffany Lee Viola, authorities told WPBF 25 News.
During her tenure, she reportedly served as a school resource officer.
Posts on the Punta Gorda Police Department Facebook page show Griffith teaching students about topics including bullying, sexting and internet safety, WPBF 25 News reported.
“She is teaching a course educating high school freshman on the negative consequences of bullying and sexting, as well as common crimes that occur involving high school students as either the perpetrator or victim,” one department post stated.
Griffith was also recognized as the department’s Employee of the Quarter in 2016, according to WPBF 25 News.
Griffith was booked into the Osceola County Jail and later released on $20,000 bond. (Getty Images)
Griffith was booked into the Osceola County Jail and later released on a $20,000 bond, according to WPBF 25 News.
The Punta Gorda Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and Gaylord Hotels did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
