A day at a Draper water park took a jarring turn Saturday when a 68-year-old woman was arrested after police say she grabbed a child's neck at Cowabunga Bay. According to arrest documents, the child had been playing near a fountain by the park's lazy river and was evaluated for what officers described as minor neck injuries.
As reported by FOX 13, Draper police booked Marjorie Aliprandi into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of aggravated assault and child abuse. Arresting documents state the child told officers they "felt pressure" from Aliprandi's hands, and officers noted red scratches on the child's neck. Bail was set at $750, according to the report.
What police say
Arrest documents say the child was standing by a fountain along the lazy river when they splashed Aliprandi, who then allegedly placed both hands on the child's neck. According to FOX 13, a lifeguard on duty witnessed the encounter and later provided details to the responding officer.
Police say the child left the water, told their mother what happened, and exited the pool area before officers arrived. The lifeguard's account is included in the arrest documents as part of the official response.
Park context
According to Cowabunga Bay's website, the Draper water park is located at 12047 South State Street and features a lazy river along with various splash attractions. The online listing includes seasonal hours and contact information for the Draper location, which draws families from across the Salt Lake Valley.
The arrest documents reference the park setting and note the involvement of a lifeguard who reported what they saw to police.
Legal notes
Under Utah law, deliberately impeding a person's breathing by applying pressure to the neck can meet the elements of aggravated assault. That provision is set out in Section 76-5-103.
Child abuse is addressed separately in Section 76-5-109, and aggravated child-abuse statutes increase penalties when serious injury is involved. Prosecutors typically weigh witness statements along with any medical findings before deciding whether to pursue felony charges.
Draper police booked Aliprandi on the alleged offenses and set bail at $750. It was not immediately clear whether that bail had been posted. Court dates and any formal prosecutor actions have not yet been reported, and the Salt Lake County legal process will determine if or how charges move forward.
