A mother in Florida found herself in legal trouble after allegedly dousing a school principal with Gatorade during a heated encounter at a Miami Gardens middle school.
On March 10, Diliana Quintana-Avila faced charges of battery against a school employee, disrupting an educational institution, and resisting arrest without violence. The incident unfolded at Norland Middle School, where the 40-year-old mother reportedly targeted Assistant Principal Tiffany Hayes with the contents of a Gatorade bottle, as detailed in an arrest affidavit.
The events began around 4 p.m. during the school’s dismissal period. According to Hayes, she was stationed at her usual post when she noticed Quintana-Avila rapidly approaching the entrance. Hayes recounted in the affidavit that she intercepted the mother, explaining, “How can I help you? Parents are not allowed in the building after 3:20 p.m.”
Despite Hayes’ efforts to address the situation, she claims Quintana-Avila responded with a remark in Spanish before splashing Gatorade in her face. The assistant principal stated that she raised her hands and repeatedly instructed the mother to halt, but Quintana-Avila continued into the campus undeterred.
Tensions escalated when, as described in the affidavit, Quintana-Avila allegedly threw the beverage at Hayes for a second time. The confrontation led to Quintana-Avila’s arrest, adding a dramatic chapter to an otherwise routine school day.
Hayes said in the affidavit that she tried to stop Quintana-Avila, who allegedly threw the beverage in her face a second time.
A responding officer wrote in the affidavit that he tried to verbally de-escalate the situation, however that Quintana-Avila became “increasingly irate” and refused to produce her driver’s license.
While Quintana-Avila was being escorted to the patrol car, the officer wrote in the affidavit that she became “physically resistant.”
“Miami-Dade County Public Schools is aware of an isolated incident that occurred after school hours at Norland Middle School involving a parent and an administrator,” read a district statement sent to Oxygen. “Miami-Dade Schools Police quickly apprehended and arrested the individual. This District takes the safety and well-being of our students and staff very seriously and remains committed to maintaining a secure school environment for all.”
Quintana-Avila was transported to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and has since been released. An attorney for Quintana-Avila did not respond to a request for comment from Oxygen.
Quintana-Avila later made a court appearance in front of Judge Mindy S. Glazer, according to NBC 6. It is unclear how she pleaded.
Judge Glazer, according to the outlet, had stern words for the mom, reportedly stating: “I’m not ordering you to stay away from Norland Middle School, I’m asking you to act like an adult and listen when people tell you you can’t go into a school or have to show an identification.”
