The Assistant Head of School at Academy Prep of Lakeland, a not-for-profit private school, was arrested Saturday afternoon, July 11, 2026, for a criminal traffic charge, and subsequently charged for her resistance and violence during the arrest. 

A PCSO deputy conducted the traffic stop on a gray Chevrolet Traverse at around 1:09 pm, on westbound I-4 near Polk City.

36-year old Dominique Lasahy DeVeaux of Lakeland was stopped for driving the Traverse without a valid driver’s license. 

DeVeaux’s driver’s license was revoked on November 26, 2024 for five years for being a habitual traffic offender. Since then, her license was suspended in March 2025, June 2025, and August 2025 for failure to pay traffic citations. Her license was cancelled indefinitely on May 3, 2025. She has seven unpaid traffic citations in Orange County.

The deputy requested Ms. DeVeaux to exit the vehicle twice. On a third request, she exited her vehicle, but when the deputy attempted to put handcuffs on her, she physically resisted. Ms. DeVeaux then turned and struck the deputy’s hand, in an attempt to free her arm from his grasp. 

A young child and the child’s father were also present in the vehicle at the time of the time of the traffic stop.

“Throwing a tantrum on the side of an interstate and physically striking a deputy is way out of line. It is especially unacceptable for someone who by profession is responsible for so many children. She is supposed to be a role model… not for just her students, but also the young child in the vehicle with her.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Dominique DeVeaux was taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center and charged with Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer (F3), Resisting with Violence (F3), Driving While License Suspended/Revoked Habitual Offender (F3), and Resisting without Violence (M1).