A Lake Central High School teacher is being held at the Lake County Jail on Wednesday on pending illegal drug charges, police said.
Officers were called to the school, 8855 Wicker Ave., around 11:30 a.m. after students reported to the principal they saw a teacher “suspected of possessing an illegal narcotic on school property,” according to a news release from St. John police Chief James Kveton.
Adminstrators then called police, Kveton said in the release.
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Police intend to charge the teacher with possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemanor, the release said.
“Earlier today, Lake Central administration was made aware of a situation regarding a teacher at Lake Central HS,” Lake Central Superintendent Larry Veracco said via email, echoing an automated voicemail sent to parents. Veracco declined to elaborate on the situation.
“Swift and forceful action was taken in conjunction with St. John and Dyer police,” he added. “The safety of all students remains the top priority of our school staff and a full investigation is ongoing.”
On Wednesday, one of multiple videos widely circulated on Instagram and Snapchat appeared to show a woman escorted out of a high school in handcuffs by multiple police officers.
Veracco, in an email, declined to confirm if the teacher was still employed at the district. An investigation is ongoing, he said.
A woman answering the phone at the Dyer Police Department said a K-9 unit assisted St. John police Wednesday.
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