Amy L. Jones, the 23-year-old Milwaukee woman charged with impersonating a substitute teacher at a Wisconsin high school, was arrested Friday in a stolen vehicle after causing a minor traffic accident, according to Oak Lawn police.
Investigative Division Chief Steven McNeela of the Oak Lawn Police Department confirmed the arrest.
“She was in a stolen vehicle, stolen from Brookfield Wisconsin, driving through Oak Lawn Friday around 1pm,” he told the Heartland Post Saturday. “She was stopped in traffic at 105th and Cicero and caused a minor traffic accident.”
Jones faces several misdemeanor charges stemming from the Illinois stop.
“She is being charged with several misdemeanors including unlawful use of weapon (loaded gun in glove box that belonged to the owner of the vehicle), criminal trespass to motor vehicle, obstructing ID, aggravated speeding, reckless driving, and no valid drivers license,” McNeela said.
Brookfield police had responded earlier Friday to a report of a stolen vehicle at a Crunch Fitness location near 124th Street and Capitol Drive. Authorities said the suspect used a fake name to enter the facility and stole the keys to a blue 2017 Nissan Pathfinder. Oak Lawn officers later encountered Jones in the vehicle after the minor crash around 1 p.m.
The arrest comes days after Jones was released on a signature bond in Milwaukee County on charges related to a September incident at Rufus King International High School. Prosecutors allege that on Sept. 24, Jones, a former student at the school, entered the building, told office staff she was a substitute teacher, signed in, and was placed in a classroom for multiple periods.
Students later reported that she used profane language, racial slurs, and sexually derogatory statements, and organized students by race and gender. According to the criminal complaint, Jones told investigators she went to the school because she was “bored,” said she “hates kids,” and “just wanted to f— around.” She is charged with one felony count of representing herself as a public employee and five felony counts of exposing a child to harmful descriptions. If convicted, she could face up to 21 years in prison.
Her attorney has previously stated that Jones manages bipolar disorder and was experiencing issues with her medication at the time of the school incident. Brookfield police said new charges related to the vehicle theft are being referred to the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office. It was not immediately clear when Jones might be extradited to Wisconsin.
Jones remains in custody in Illinois on the local charges. The cases remain ongoing in both states.
