Baton Rouge, LA – A middle school teacher in Louisiana was taken into custody after a K-9 drug sweep allegedly uncovered cocaine in her bag at school.
The Arrest
Authorities said Virginia Somers, 47, a math intervention teacher at Westdale Middle School, was arrested on Tuesday after a K-9 unit with the East Baton Rouge Parish School Drug Task Force flagged her book bag.
The dog, named Vimsen, alerted officers, leading them to search Somers’ bag and wallet. Inside, police reportedly found a substance that tested positive for cocaine.
Teacher’s Statement
According to the probable cause affidavit, after being read her rights, Somers claimed the drugs belonged to a friend but admitted she had “snorted” the cocaine at a Louisiana State University football tailgate party the previous weekend.
Vehicle Search
When police asked to search her Honda CR-V, Somers gave consent. Officers allegedly discovered 0.5 grams of marijuana, along with two marijuana pipes and lighters, inside a gray bag in the glove compartment. In total, authorities confiscated 0.8 grams of cocaine and 0.5 grams of marijuana.
Charges and Court Appearance
Somers was charged with:
- Possession of cocaine
- Possession of marijuana
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Violation of controlled dangerous substances in a school zone
She was scheduled to make her first court appearance on Wednesday.
School District’s Response
The East Baton Rouge Parish Public School System issued a statement through WAFB, saying:
“This behavior is not condoned by our district, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and drug-free environment for all students and staff.”
What are your thoughts on this case? Should teachers caught with drugs face harsher penalties? Share your views in the comments below.
