Woman hits cruiser, faces multiple charges

By CASEY CORA, Times Staff Writer
Published January 26, 2008

TAMPA - A woman was arrested Thursday after hitting a Hillsborough sheriff's deputy's cruiser.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said Deputy Jeffrey Catlin's cruiser was parked on the east side of N 15th Street near E 122nd Avenue about 9:50 p.m., as Gatlin was assisting with a traffic stop.

That's when Jeannine Canfield, northbound on N 15th Street, sideswiped thecruiserand kept driving.

Catlin caught up with her at 131st Avenue and Key Largo Road. Investigators said herspeech was slurred and her breath smelled of alcohol. She was unable to perform routine DUI testing and refused to provide breath testing, reports say.

Deputies also found 55 Valium pills and 52 pills of the muscle relaxer Flexeril, Carter said.

Canfield, 54, of Tampa, was charged with DUI with property damage, leaving the scene of a crash with damage, possession of a drug without prescription and possession of a controlled substance. She was taken to the Orient Road Jail. Bail was set at $3,000.

[Last modified January 26, 2008, 01:08:51]