A first-grade teacher at St. John's Episcopal School in Homestead was arrested over the weekend after what deputies describe as a domestic dispute that turned physical and involved both a knife and a cellphone. Authorities say the situation took a sharper turn when the victim began recording the argument, triggering a struggle over the phone.
According to an arrest report and reporting by Local 10, Ada Caballero, 44, of Homestead, was taken into custody Sunday on charges of armed robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery. She was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with bond set at $6,000, the report states.
St. John's Episcopal School's staff directory lists Caballero as the school's first-grade lead teacher and notes she has more than 10 years of experience in education, according to St. John's Episcopal School. As of publication time, that entry remains live on the school's public staff page.
Arrest report details
The arrest report, as described by Local 10, states that the couple began arguing and the victim started recording on his phone. Deputies allege Caballero grabbed him by the shirt and reached for the device, scratching his chest as they struggled. Investigators say she managed to snatch the phone, the victim then bear-hugged her to stop the confrontation, and she pulled a knife and “took a swipe” that missed. According to the report, both the phone and the knife then fell, the victim retrieved his phone and called 911. Caballero invoked her rights and did not provide a statement to detectives, per the report.
What the charges mean
The allegations have brought two serious felony counts: armed robbery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, both defined under Florida law. Per the Florida Statutes, robbery committed while the offender carries a firearm or other deadly weapon is classified as a first-degree felony (Section 812.13), and aggravated assault includes an assault involving a deadly weapon (Section 784.021). Any eventual penalties and enhancements will hinge on how prosecutors choose to charge the case and what circumstances they present in court.
School and next steps
Caballero remains in custody as the case moves through the criminal process. The school's public staff directory still lists her in the first-grade role, and school officials have not posted any update to that page as of this publication.
