LAKELAND, FL (December 22, 2023) On Wednesday, December 20, 2023, Janeria McCutchen, employed as a teacher at Sleepy Hill Middle School, was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on an arrest warrant. The charges stemmed from an incident that took place in the 1500 block of Unitah Avenue in June of this year.
On June 11, 2023, Lakeland Police Department officers who responded to the incident location were originally called for a disturbance. According to the victim, witness and corroborating evidence, McCutchen arrived at the victim’s residence, initiated the disturbance and began aggressively knocking on the door. The victim had been friends with McCutchen, so he answered the door to ask her to leave. McCutchen forced the door open, pushed the victim out of the way, and entered the residence. McCutchen began searching the residence for property she believed was hers. The victim began recording her with his cell phone. McCutchen struck the phone with her hand and took $180.00 in cash from the residence. She exited and broke a window at the home before leaving the scene in a vehicle. The victim received a small laceration on his right leg from the forced entry.
McCutchen was not present when officers arrived and could not be located that night. Therefore, Lakeland officers completed a complaint affidavit charging her with Burglary with Battery (F1), Grand Theft from a Dwelling (F3), and Criminal Mischief (M1). A warrant was later issued for these charges.
