At around 8:15 a.m. on Sunday, February 15, 2026, a Polk County deputy sheriff conducted a traffic stop on a gray Nissan SUV in the area of Ridgewood Lakes and U.S. Hwy 27 in Davenport after being notified that the registered owner of the vehicle had a suspended driver's license. 

The driver was positively identified as the registered owner - 47-year-old Chenia Thate of Orlando. She provided the deputy with her license, at which time he informed her that it was suspended due to lack of insurance. She told the deputy that she did not know it was suspended.

The deputy ran Thate's information through the database and learned she had a warrant for her arrest for failure to appear in court regarding the failure to maintain insurance. Thate told the deputy that she could not recall signing a citation, however, the deputy found the original citation and confirmed that she signed the criminal notice to appear paperwork.

She was taken into custody for the warrant and released after posting $250.00 bond. She is currently the principal at Hillcrest Elementary School in Lake Wales, a Lake Wales Charter School.

"This is disappointing, to say the least. Someone in a position of authority over schoolchildren should be setting the example for honesty, morals, and ethics." - Grady Judd, Sheriff