LAKELAND, Fla. — A teacher in Lakeland was arrested on multiple charges after the Lakeland Police Department says she forced her way into a man's home, took cash and broke a window back in June.
The woman, identified by the police department as 26-year-old Janeria McCutchen, was arrested by deputies on Wednesday on a warrant.
According to a press release, McCutchen is a teacher at Sleepy Hill Middle School.
Her arrest stems from a June 11 incident in which police say she began "aggressively knocking on the door" of the man's home off of Unitah Avenue. He then answered and asked her to leave, but instead, she reportedly "forced the door open, pushed the victim out of the way, and entered the residence."
Police say the man "received a small laceration" on his right leg as she forced her way inside.
Once inside, McCutchen is accused of looking around the home for "property she believed was hers." As she was searching, police say the victim started recording her actions on his phone. She then allegedly "struck the phone," took $180 and broke a window before leaving.
The department explained that the two knew each other and had been friends.
McCutchen is now facing charges of burglary with battery, grand theft from a dwelling and criminal mischief.
10 Tampa Bay has reached out to the Polk County School District for comment and is waiting to hear back.
