Florida woman busted for speeding in school zone bites deputy after drugs found in car: PCSO

DAVENPORT, Fla. - Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said a Clermont woman was not spreading joy this holiday season when she battered one deputy and tried to bite another after she was caught with drugs and a suspended license while speeding in a school zone.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies saw a woman, later identified as 23-year-old Lara Alexandre, speeding through the school zone while looking at an iPad and not wearing her seatbelt outside Ridgeview Global Studies on Dunson Road in Davenport around 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday.

Deputies say that after being pulled over, she told them that she didn’t have her driver’s license, but when her information was run through a database, it showed that her license had been suspended in September 2024.

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When deputies searched her vehicle, they said they found marijuana and a grinder in her purse, and her suspended license.

Lara Alexandre mugshot courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

As one deputy was taking her into custody, she became combative, and elbowed him in the chest, according to PCSO.

Deputies said Alexandre was aggressive while in the back of the patrol car as they took her to the Sheriff's Processing Center in Winter Haven to be booked into jail.

According to PCSO, when a detention deputy came out to help remove Alexandre from the vehicle, she bit him on the arm.

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In addition to her traffic citations, Alexandre was charged with two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, resisting arrest with violence, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, possession of a suspended driver's license, and driving while license suspended.

"I don't know if Ms. Alexandre celebrates Christmas or not, but she's certainly not spreading joy this holiday season," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. "In fact, she's done everything possible to ensure she'll be in the county jail instead of spending time with her family at Christmas. Here's a tip - if you're driving illegally, you probably shouldn't draw attention to yourself by speeding through a school zone while looking at a mobile device and not wearing your seatbelt."

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