Top 5 Stories: DUI On A Horse, Teacher Sex Arrest, And More

Here are some of the week's top headlines on Tampa Bay Patches:

A passerby spotted a Polk City woman, who appeared confused and possibly in danger, as she rode her horse on a Lakeland street Thursday afternoon. The passerby called deputies who stopped the woman and her horse, named Boduke (as in the Dukes of Hazzard). The rider, Donna Byrne, 53, was charged with animal neglect for failing to provide proper protection for the horse, placing it in jeopardy of being injured or killed. The horse was not hurt, deputies said. Florida Woman Gets DUI Riding A Horse: Deputies

A Lennard High School teacher was arrested Friday on charges of having sex with a 17-year-old student. Deputies arrested Caroline Lawson, 29, early Friday morning at her home in Tampa, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Lawson was charged with two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor. She has resigned her position with the school district. Lennard High Teacher Accused Of Sex With Student: Deputies

A Hillsborough sheriff's deputy was suspended "without pay pending termination," after fleeing the scene of three wrecks Sunday night in Largo. James G. Paes, 39, faces charges of leaving the scene of a crash involving serious injuries and leaving the scene of a crash involving property. The Hillsborough sheriff's office said the incident involving Paes "while in Pinellas County in his personal vehicle" resulted in his immediate suspension without pay pending termination. Hillsborough Deputy Suspended For Fleeing Crash Scene In Largo

Pasco deputies are warning parents about a trend involving prepubescent children who are being solicited online to perform sexual acts using phone apps such as Liveme, Skype and Instagram. The sheriff's Cyber Investigations Unit has spotted the trend over the last two months involving the abuse of social media and preteens. Pasco Deputies Warn Parents: Children Solicited Through Apps

A man identified as a suspect in Tuesday's terror attack in New York City has ties to Tampa. At least eight people were killed and about a dozen injured when a truck sped down a bike path near the West Side Highway, crashing into cyclists, pedestrians and a school bus. The suspect was identified as Sayfullo Saipov, 29. He lived at an apartment complex off 56th Street N. in Tampa earlier this year, but neighbors say he and his family moved about seven months ago to New Jersey. Suspect In New York City Terror Attack Had Tampa Ties

Image via Pixabay