A heated confrontation between two educators at a Miami charter boarding school, who reportedly share both a professional and a personal past, culminated in their arrests. Authorities indicate that a classroom meeting between the duo spiraled into violence.
According to an arrest affidavit from Miami-Dade Schools Police, obtained by News Media, 36-year-old Terrod Tiyan Torrence and Odiria Biggins were once romantically involved and have a child together.
In the days leading up to the altercation, Biggins reported to investigators that Torrence had left a handwritten note on her desk, proposing a conversation.
Agreeing to the meeting, Biggins met Torrence on July 17 in Classroom 119 at The SEED School of Miami, as detailed in the affidavit.
Following the incident, Terrod Torrence faces charges of domestic violence. Authorities allege the situation escalated into a physical altercation with a fellow teacher at The SEED School of Miami. (Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation)
What began as a conversation quickly turned physical, according to investigators.
Biggins told police Torrence repeatedly punched her in the left side of the head before slamming her head into a wall, causing her to lose consciousness and collapse to the floor.
But the confrontation didn’t end there, investigators said.
After regaining consciousness, Biggins allegedly walked to her vehicle, grabbed a canister of pepper spray and later tracked Torrence down elsewhere on campus before spraying him, according to Miami ABC affiliate WSVN.
Surveillance video captured Biggins entering a classroom where Torrence was, the outlet reported.
A courtyard at The SEED School of Miami, where investigators say an argument between two teachers escalated into violence. (The SEED School of Miami Facebook)
Moments later, both emerged with Torrence appearing to struggle walking and suffering visible eye irritation before school staff rushed to help him. He was later taken to a hospital for treatment.
Biggins was arrested Monday and charged with discharging a weapon on school property for allegedly using pepper spray on campus, along with misdemeanor domestic violence battery, according to WSVN. A judge found probable cause and set her bond at $2,000.
Torrence was arrested Tuesday by Miami-Dade Schools Police and charged with misdemeanor domestic violence battery.
The Miami-Dade Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (Google Maps)
Court records show he was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center before appearing before Judge Alicia Garcia Priovolos, who imposed a $2,000 standard bond and a pretrial no-contact order barring him from contacting Biggins. His arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 23.
It remains unclear what sparked the argument or whether any students witnessed the confrontation.
News Media has reached out to the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department and The SEED School of Miami for additional information, including whether either teacher remains employed.