A Florida couple found themselves in jail on Wednesday after allegedly interfering with a mother’s attempts to discipline her disruptive child by spitting in her face.
The incident unfolded in a parking lot in Davie when the mother reported a heated exchange with her 4-year-old son, who had spat at her following a reprimand. The mother, trying to assert control, reportedly hit her child in the mouth and on his torso.
Terry Williams, 66, and his wife Mary, 63, who witnessed the scene, rushed over to intervene. Terry criticized the mother’s methods, suggesting, perhaps wrongly, that since she worked for the Florida Department of Children and Families, she shouldn’t be yelling or hitting her child.
Mary soon joined in with the criticism, and when the mother attempted to get into her car with her son, Mary blocked her way.
This led to an escalation. According to the mother’s account to police, Mary scratched her and choked her, almost causing her to lose consciousness, while also ripping her shirt in the process.
Terry, not far behind in the escalation, pulled the mother’s hair and shirt, intensifying the confrontation.
By the end of the scuffle, the mother was left in her bra, sporting scratches on her throat and a cut on her lip, as reported by the police. Witnesses described the couple as openly attacking the mother.
One witness noted, “They were on both sides, just grabbing her and ripping the scrub shirt off her.” It seemed to her that the couple was trying to drag the mother down as she expressed pain from the encounter.
Police arrested the couple, with Terry being charged with assault. He was able to post a $2,500 bail shortly after. Mary, facing charges of assault and robbery, had her bail set at $5,000 and remained in custody while Terry appeared in court.
Terry, speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, denied any wrongdoing. When confronted with the witness’s account, he responded, “Wow, really? That’s interesting.”
