Slap landed grandmother behind bars for a day

She got into an argument with her 18-year-old granddaughter about finishing her homework.

Instead, 73-year-old Theresa Collier got a mouth full of vulgarity in return.

Collier didn't stand for the lip from her granddaughter Felicia.

"So I got up and slapped her across the face - just as simple as that," Collier said.

The teen called Largo police after the incident at Collier's Largo home April 27. Police arrested Collier and charged her with domestic battery. She spent more than 24 hours in the Pinellas County jail, records show.

"So scary, just so scary," said Collier, who had never been arrested. "They all came up to me, every one of them, wanting to know."

Collier said Tuesday that she's aware that youth today -- including her granddaughter -- use foul language. But she finds it unacceptable.

"She uses the "F" word like 'the,'" Collier said. "And I know the kids that age use it all the time. But it's not my language. I didn't grow up that way, and I didn't bring my children up that way."

After the slap, Felicia grabbed her grandmother's wrists. Her grandfather, Walt Collier, broke it up. The teen ran out and called 911.

The Colliers were Felicia's guardians. When she turned 18, she felt like she could do whatever she wanted and not listen to her grandparents, Collier said.

The Largo Police Department has specific domestic violence policy, and in most cases suspects are arrested.

"Because domestic violence is one of the most volatile situations an officer can respond to, and it's also one of the most volatile situations that can occur," said Lt. Mike Loux, a spokesman for Largo police.

The state attorney's office dropped the charges against Collier on Tuesday afternoon.

Collier thinks she might one day reconcile with her granddaughter.

"Maybe sometime," Collier said. "I want her to get her diploma first."