A Lake County kindergarten teacher is charged with DUI and accused of ramming into a patrol car while she was driving to school. This isn’t the first time the Lake County School District has had to investigate the teacher.
Monday morning as drivers were heading down State Road 44 in Lake County, several called 911 to report a black SUV heading right toward them.
"The guy in front of me is all over the road and he’s nearly caused a dozen accidents this morning,” one caller said.
“This guy is going to kill somebody. He’s almost hit a bus and several other vehicles,” a Florida Highway Patrol trooper warned over the radio.
Deputies said the driver blew right by a school bus with its stop arm out as it picked up children.
The driver turned out to be a Sorrento Elementary kindergarten teacher, Monica Jenkins, 44, who was on her way to school.
One woman, who narrowly missed being hit, said Jenkins appeared to be trying to hit people.
“A lady in a Ford Explorer just tried to hit me head on," she explained.
“And she’s doing it on purpose?" the dispatcher asked.
"Yes, absolutely. I went all the way over in the grass and she was still coming right at me and she went after the car behind me.”
Lake County deputies finally caught up to Jenkins and arrested her, but not before they say she rammed their patrol car - twice.
According to the arrest report, Jenkins was confused as to why they were bothering her and had to be forcefully removed from the car at gunpoint. Deputies found a prescription bottle of Oxycodone in the SUV. The prescription was meant to last at least a month, but deputies said it was nearly empty after just a week.
While at Eustis Elementary last year, a Lake County Schools' investigation revealed Jenkins grabbed a child’s arm, squeezed her cheeks and then yelled at her to try to get her to stop crying.
Jenkins was reassigned to Sorrento and directed to complete an online course on ethics.
Now, she’s at home on unpaid leave. The SUV she’s accused of ramming deputies with was in her driveway, but she wouldn’t come to the door to answer questions.
Parents have been informed Jenkins won’t be back this year. She could be fired if convicted.
“We take the totality of an employee’s history, but in this case it’s egregious enough it could stand by itself,” said Chris Patton, Lake County Schools spokesman.
“One problem is too many, that’s ridiculous," parent Jill Brown said. "I’m sure they will find a replacement for her and I just hope it’s a better fit.”
Jenkins is free on $10,500 bond. She is facing several charges, including DUI and aggravated battery on an officer.
She has been with Lake County Schools since 1996.