JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A violent arrest outside an IDEA school in Jacksonville has left several young students traumatized, according to parents who witnessed the incident firsthand.
The mother of an 8-year-old student said her daughter was one of many children who saw a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) officer punch and wrestle a combative mother to the ground while trying to handcuff her in front of IDEA school on Bassett Road.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Woman charged in violent encounter punched, bit Jacksonville officer, sheriff says; 2 bystanders face ‘Halo Law’ charges | ‘They can be a threat’: Crime analyst explains how Halo law protects officers from potential danger
“It was a lot to unpack and explain to young children,” the mother said. “My daughter was afraid to go to school the next day because she saw somebody’s mother being choked, slammed on the ground, hit, and her hair was on the ground. That can be traumatizing for children.”
The mother added that she and other parents were picking up their children when the scuffle broke out. She said she immediately realized her daughter was traumatized.
“As soon as I got in the car, my daughter was crying,” she said.
Police say 39-year-old Erika McGriff resisted arrest, which escalated the situation. Sheriff T.K. Waters commented on the incident during a recent news conference, expressing concern about the example set for children witnessing the arrest.
“It’s shocking when you square up to fight a police officer when maybe you were going to get a citation,” Waters said.
The mother also revealed that other parents have reported similar trauma in their children.
Several parents are reportedly considering removing their children from the school due to the incident. Experts note that arrests in front of children can have lasting psychological effects.
Last year, Tom Hackney, News4JAX’s crime and safety analyst, highlighted the importance of minimizing trauma during arrests involving parents, referencing a child-sensitive arrest law passed in New York aimed at protecting children who witness such events.
“You try to do the least amount of harm in executing the arrest. Sometimes, it can’t be helped, but other times it can be, and it’s so traumatic for the little ones to see,” Hackney said.
The officer involved in the arrest is not facing disciplinary action, as JSO confirmed he acted within department policy.
The mother hopes the situation could have been handled differently by both the officer and McGriff.
Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.