A 57-year-old art teacher in New Jersey has reportedly been arrested on Thursday, Jan. 5, after he reportedly overdosed himself with drugs in front of students back in November.
He was identified as Frank Thompson, an art teacher at Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield.
According to the Westfield Police Department, Thompson was found unconscious and unresponsive at a second-floor classroom just before 9:00 a.m. on Nov. 29, 2022.
Police added that the 57-year-old teacher was first noticed to be in distress by students and was being attended to by the school nurse when they arrived.
One of the responding officers allegedly noticed that Thompson was overdosed in drugs and administered him Narcan or naloxone hydroxide, something that Westfield police officers were reportedly equipped with.
After getting injected with it, Thompson showed signs of improvement according to authorities. During the investigations, it was found that the teacher had fentanyl and paraphernalia in the classroom closet.
As a result of the incident, the school had to seal off the classroom and sanitize it, Fox 5 reported.
Classes were temporarily moved to a different location and the school commissioner a former teacher to maintain the continuity of instruction.
Thompson was charged only on Thursday even if the incident had happened back in November. He is being charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, endangering the welfare of children and a disorderly person offense per authorities.
The 57-year-old man is set to appear before a court on Feb. 1.
“While the Westfield Public School District cannot comment on personnel matters which are confidential, we will maintain a continued focus on student and staff safety and on preserving the integrity of the classroom learning environment,” said Superintendent Dr. Raymond González. “We are grateful for our strong partnership with the Westfield Police Department.”
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.