A morning walk in Volusia County turned into a criminal investigation last week after a 54-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly throwing coffee on a mother, her baby, and the family dog during an argument over a leash.
Nina Jaaskelainen was taken into custody and charged with two counts of battery following the Nov. 14 incident near New Smyrna Beach, approximately 40 miles northeast of Orlando, according to News 6.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the confrontation began around 8:35 a.m. along the 4100 block of Quail Ranch Road. The victim told deputies she was walking on an easement with her infant son and her dog. While she admitted her dog was not on a leash, she stated the animal was “following closely alongside” her.
As they passed a gated property, Jaaskelainen, who was outside with her own dog, reportedly began yelling at the woman to leash her pet.
The situation escalated quickly. The victim told investigators that Jaaskelainen “threw coffee on her dog while simultaneously stating her dog had been killed before.” When the two women began to argue, Jaaskelainen allegedly advanced toward her gate—getting within approximately 20 feet—and threw the remaining liquid on the mother and the baby.
READ: Death Penalty Sought For 2 In Pennsylvania Accused Of Torture, Dumping 9-Year-Old In Tote Bag
The victim began recording the encounter on her phone shortly after the liquid was thrown. Deputies reviewed the footage, which showed Jaaskelainen standing behind a fence holding a “light-colored coffee mug” while arguing with the victim.
Upon arrival, deputies noted physical evidence supporting the victim’s account, observing “dried coffee” on the woman, the infant, and the dog.
When questioned by law enforcement, Jaaskelainen reportedly admitted to splashing the animal. She told deputies she threw the coffee because the unleashed pet was upsetting her own dog and she believed the group was trespassing on her property. However, she denied intentionally throwing coffee on the woman or the child.
Jaaskelainen was held on a $1,000 bond. Court records indicate she is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on Dec. 1, with a criminal trial tentatively set to begin Dec. 22.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
