Deputies say a family fight over a cell phone ended with a teenager in handcuffs after her mom was bitten and her dad was threatened.
According to the report, the argument started when the mother tried to take away her daughter’s phone as punishment. The teen allegedly lashed out, grabbing her mom by the hair, shoving her against the refrigerator, and biting her on the arm. Deputies photographed visible bite marks and bruising.
While officers were still speaking with the mother, the girl returned home with two friends. Deputies asked the friends to leave and questioned the teen, who claimed her mom had put hands on her first because she wouldn’t give up the phone. She was placed in the back of a patrol car while deputies continued their investigation.
The girl’s father told deputies he hadn’t seen the fight over the phone but said his daughter had also tried to bite him on another occasion and threatened to kill him when he attempted to confiscate the device.
Deputies arrested the teen for domestic violence and advised her parents that juvenile court would follow up.
Cell phones are more than gadgets to teens — they’re their social lifeline. Texts, Snapchat streaks, group chats, and TikTok often feel like a survival tool for staying connected. That’s why attempts to take them away can spark intense emotions and, sometimes, explosive conflicts.
For parents: Make phone rules clear in advance. Taking away a device in the heat of the moment can trigger bigger blowups.
For teens: No phone is worth hurting your family. Violence only makes the problem worse.
For everyone: Remember, domestic violence laws apply at every age. Even juveniles can be arrested when things go too far.
