A mother was arrested after attempting to hit a staff member with her vehicle at Port Charlotte High School in Florida. The incident occurred when the woman tried to exit the parking lot the same way she entered, despite being told not to due to incoming buses. The woman revved her engine and drove towards the staff member, who managed to evade the vehicle. She has been charged with Aggravated Assault on a Public or Private Education Employee and is currently in custody. FOX 4 News Fort Myers WFTX reported
A mother was taken into custody after an incident at Port Charlotte High School, where she allegedly tried to strike a staff member with her vehicle. The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) reported that the parent dropped off her child at school and then attempted to leave the parking lot the same way she entered. However, a staff member informed her that she couldn’t exit that way due to buses unloading students.
According to the CCSO, the woman named Tarajayne Samuels-Catalan, turned her vehicle towards the staff member and accelerated, revving the engine and approaching him at a high speed. In order to escape the oncoming vehicle, the staff member quickly jumped into some nearby bushes. A witness who witnessed the incident and security footage confirmed the victim’s account.
When the deputies spoke to Samuels-Catalan, she explained that she prefers to exit through the entry to avoid speed bumps in the exit area, as they can cause damage to her vehicle. She denied any intention to hit the staff member with her car.
As a result, Samuels-Catalan was arrested and charged with Aggravated Assault on a Public or Private Education Employee. She is currently being held at the Charlotte County Jail without the option of posting bail..