Florida Teacher Accused of Crashing into Police Car

(Lake County, Florida) A 44-year-old teacher at Sorrento Elementary School, Monica Leigh Jenkins, has been accused of twice ramming into a Lake County deputy's vehicle while under the influence of a drug and fleeing a traffic stop on her way to school.

Jenkins faces counts of aggravated battery on a law officer, fleeing and driving under the influence.

According to an arrest report a deputy spotted Jenkins in a black sport-utility vehicle headed east in the westbound lane of State Road 44 near Scrub Oak Lane.

When Jenkins would not slow down, authorities said, the deputy pulled in front of her to keep her from hitting other vehicles.The teacher then twice crashed into the deputy's rear bumper before coming to a stop at County Road 42.

After being removed from her vehicle, Jenkins told a second deputy she'd missed a turn, did not remember the deputy attempting to stop her and did not recall striking the deputy's vehicle or passing a stopped school bus.

Jenkins has been placed on unpaid administrative leave.