Authorities in Spartanburg, South Carolina, arrested 36-year-old Tyshekka Collier after she allegedly slapped a boy she mistakenly believed was her son.

According to deputies, Collier's son was in the process of being suspended from Fairforest Middle School on Wednesday when Collier arrived at the school with the intention of picking him up.

Upon entering the principal's office, Collier reportedly spotted a boy sitting "with his head down," and slapped him across the face, thinking it was her son.

Principal Ty Dawkins later said the assaulted boy was sick and waiting for his own mother to pick him up.

Dawkins told deputies that Collier apologized to the boy for her misdirected anger, but then proceeded to walk over to her actual son and knocked him to the ground.

Collier was subsequently taken into custody and charged with two counts of assault and battery and one count of disturbing school.

Additionally, Collier's three children have been removed from her care and placed in protective custody.

"I'd try to control your emotions a little bit when it comes to children and especially in public atmospheres here," Spartanburg County sheriff's Lt. Tony Ivey told WYFF News. "Sometimes it's better to count to 10 or go off and cool off for a little bit, then go back with a level head before you start to discipline your children."

[mug shot via Spartanburg County Detention Center]