The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has released body camera footage that shows a violent encounter between two parents and a school resource officer at a local middle school.
According to VCSO, 46-year-old Jorge Rivera and 45-year-old Dagmarie Aponte Iturrino went to Deltona Middle School on Tuesday, November 19, to “protest their son’s battery charge.” The previous day, their son had allegedly shoved a girl at the school.
While at the middle school, Rivera and Aponte Iturrino met with a female school resource officer. During that meeting, Rivera “became irate” and started screaming at the deputy, who then ordered him to leave the premises.
As the couple began walking in the hallway, Aponte Iturrino allegedly shoved the deputy against a wall. The sheriff’s office states that Rivera then proceeded to punch the deputy in her head, knocking her to the ground while she was holding a Taser.
Rivera then “ripped the Taser from (the deputy’s) hand,” according to VCSO.
The deputy quickly stood up, pointed her firearm at Rivera, and ordered him to drop the Taser. He complied, and he was quickly detained in handcuffs.
Rivera and Aponte Iturrino were both placed under arrest and transported to Volusia County Jail. They are facing the following charges: battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, disruption of school function, and trespassing on a school campus.
In addition, Rivera is being charged with armed robbery and grand theft for taking the deputy’s Taser. A “hate crime enhancement” has also been added to some of his charges due to a “derogatory slur” that he called the deputy shortly before the physical altercation occurred.
The couple’s son was present and witnessed the entire incident, according to VCSO.
Aponte Iturrino posted an $11,000 bond and was released from Volusia County Jail a few hours after her arrest. Her husband, Rivera, was released the following day after posting a $42,000 bond.
The sheriff’s office stated that the deputy involved in the incident was taken to a local hospital for treatment of “concussion symptoms.”
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood commended the deputy’s “calm (and) effective response to a violent attack that will not be tolerated in our schools or in our community.”