Deputies say a 6-year-old was forced underwater during a dispute at the Gaylord Palms resort.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A judge ordered Tiffany Lee Griffith held without bond after deputies said she pushed a 6-year-old boy under the water at a Kissimmee resort pool Friday, then yelled at the child’s mother before deputies found her on the property.
The case moved quickly from the hotel pool deck to first appearance court as the holiday weekend began. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said the incident unfolded during rough play among children around 4:30 p.m. at the Gaylord Palms. Griffith, 36, of Fort Myers, faces an aggravated child abuse charge while prosecutors review the arrest affidavit. The immediate stakes include a no-contact order, potential travel restrictions associated with jail status, and a follow-up hearing set this week.
According to deputies, three children were splashing when the activity escalated. Investigators said a boy dunked Griffith’s 6-year-old son. Griffith stepped into the pool, confronted the other child and, with both hands on his shoulders, pushed him underwater for several seconds. The child emerged crying with a nosebleed and ran to his parents, who flagged hotel security and called 911. Responding deputies interviewed witnesses and escorted Griffith from the area. During first appearance, the judge told her, “You can have no contact with the victim or the victim’s family,” and concluded the hearing with “Good luck.”
Jail records list Griffith’s age as 36 and her residence as Fort Myers. The arrest location was the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center near the Interstate 4 corridor and central tourist district. The sheriff’s office said only one arrest was made. The child’s name was withheld because of his age. Officials described the incident as brief and said the boy’s reported injury was limited to a nosebleed; they did not announce any hospital transport. A sheriff’s social media summary noted the play “became aggressive,” prompting the confrontation that ended in the alleged dunking. The resort did not immediately provide a statement when asked over the weekend.
Griffith’s booking shows an aggravated child abuse count, a felony. Under Florida procedure, the State Attorney’s Office will decide on formal charges after reviewing body-camera footage, any pool surveillance and written statements. Deputies said they are also collecting contact information from resort guests who remained at the scene. A separate incident report referenced the presence of hotel security during the response but did not describe additional physical force used by any other adult. It remains unknown whether independent cellphone video exists beyond any hotel cameras.
The resort’s pool complex, a frequent holiday draw with families circulating between slides and shallow areas, was busy as dusk approached Friday. Parents who spoke with reporters described a sudden flurry of shouting and a child scrambling out of the water. In court, Griffith’s attorney questioned whether the documents established how the nosebleed occurred before withdrawing the argument following the judge’s clarification about the allegation summarized by deputies. No one else was detained.
As of late Sunday, Griffith remained at the Osceola County Jail without bond. A subsequent hearing is expected Tue., Dec. 23, when prosecutors could signal whether they will file the case as charged or request additional time for review. Deputies said any update will come through public records or a follow-up advisory.
Author note: Last updated December 22, 2025.