A Lakeland teen who was at the center of attention for a cyberbullying suicide case back in 2013 that gained national attention is now behind bars again.
18-year-old Katelyn Roman was arrested Tuesday after the Polk County Sheriff’s Office says she was a passenger in a car that took deputies on a chase through North Florida Avenue.
The Sheriff’s Office says 29-year-old Kenneth Alexander placed his vehicle in reverse striking a Sheriff’s Office patrol car and in an attempt to flee struck another car eventually reaching speeds of over 100mph to get away, ending with the car on its roof at Carpenters Way and North Florida Avenue.
After deputies physically removed Alexander and Roman from the vehicle they discovered a glass pipe and a clear plastic bag, both having a white crystal-like substance inside. Both tested positive for meth.
Originally Alexander stated to deputies an unknown man named Bubba was driving the vehicle until he jumped out and Alexander took over until it crashed. Roman admitted to deputies that Alexander was driving.
Alexander did not have a valid license and has never been issued a license.
Alexander was charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated battery on law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing/leaving scene of a crash with injury or property damage, possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, driving with no valid license and resisting officer without violence. He also had outstanding felony warrants from Hillsborough County on charges of grand theft, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and criminal mischief.
Bail was set for Alexander at $9,900 on the Polk County charges and a hold was put in place for extradition by the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office.
Roman already had a warrant issued March 7 for failure to appear on charges of resisting officer without violence and giving a false name to a law enforcement officer. She was charged with possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting officer without violence.