VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A husband and wife were arrested on Tuesday after law enforcement officials said they attacked the school resource deputy at Deltona Middle School on Tuesday morning.
According to a news release, Jorge Rivera, 46, and his wife, Dagmarie Aponte Iturrino, 45, arrived at the school to protest their son’s battery charge for shoving a girl at school on Monday.
Deputies said that when Rivera didn’t like the outcome of the meeting, he became irate and started screaming at the deputy, and was asked to leave.
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Volusia County Sheriff Milt Chitwood said on Wednesday that the charge the couple’s son was facing was a civil citation.
According to the release, once in the hallway, Iturrino pushed the deputy against the wall. Rivera then punched the deputy in the head, knocked her to the ground, and ripped her Taser from her hand.
The deputy then stood up, drew her firearm and commanded Rivera to drop the Taser before taking him into custody.
“In training, if you lose your taser, you automatically transition to your firearm,” Sheriff Chitwood said. “If you take a deputy’s taser you can almost expect to get shot... Thank god that’s not what happened in these close grounds.”
On Wednesday, News 6 obtained the deputy’s bodycam footage of the incident.
Warning: The below bodycam video of the arrest contains graphic language throughout
Rivera and Iturrino face charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting with violence, disruption of school function, and trespassing on school campus.
Deputies said Rivera also faces charges of armed robbery and grand theft for taking the deputy’s Taser.
In addition, a hate crime enhancement was added to some of Rivera’s charges due to a derogatory slur he called the deputy before attacking her.
Deputies said that the couple’s son witnessed the entire incident.
“I cannot stress enough; a civil citation is not a criminal charge,” Chitwood said. “There’s no reason I got a deputy at home with a concussion for something so goddamn trivial. It’s absolutely out of control. It goes to show you what teachers and administrators are dealing with - out of control parents.”
The deputy was treated on scene and at an area hospital for concussion symptoms.
“If you’re wondering why some kids show no fear of consequences in today’s society, look no further than these parents as Exhibit A,” Chitwood said. “I’m glad they’re locked up, and I look forward to them being held fully accountable for this blatant attack on our deputy who was just doing her job.”
According to the release, the deputy received treatment on the scene and at an area hospital for concussion symptoms.
Iturrino bonded out of jail, and Rivera is being held without bond.
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