MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A northwest Miami-Dade woman was arrested Tuesday after police said she punched and spat on a school employee who had removed her son from a school bus in early July.
According to an arrest report from Miami-Dade Schools police, 33-year-old Denita Chatelain is facing one count each of aggravated battery of a specified official or employee and disruption or interference of an educational institute.
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Authorities said Chatelain entered the grounds of Lillie C. Evans K-8 Center, located at 1895 NW 75th St. in the Gladeview area, on July 8, during summer programs, and confronted a staff member in front of students, parents and other staff members.
Police wrote that Chatelain called the employee a “b----” and said she was “going to beat her a-- for putting her son off the school bus.”
Shortly after the threat, police said Chatelain struck the victim in the face and spat on her multiple times. Despite attempts by a witness to intervene, Chatelain continued her assault until she was escorted out of the school by an officer, according to the report.
Investigators said a school police officer told Chatelain to wait outside while he attempted to calm the situation, but she left the premises and returned to home near the school.
Police said Chatelain was later seen outside her home and was taken into custody without incident just before 1 p.m. Tuesday.
After being read her Miranda rights, police said Chatelain made a confession, though details of her statement were redacted in the publicly-released report.
As of Tuesday, Chatelain is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where her bond has not yet been determined.