The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A teacher in New Jersey is facing multiple charges after allegedly overdosing on Fentanyl in front of the students in his middle school class.
At the beginning of the school day on November 29, a 57-year-old art teacher at Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield, New Jersey, was in his middle school classroom with his students.
Around 9:00 AM, the students saw the man fall onto the floor.
The school nurse quickly went to the classroom to see what was going on, and when she arrived the man was reported as being unresponsive and unconscious. She alerted the school resource officer.
All officers of the law in Westfield are equipped with naloxone hydrochloride, and when the school resource officer reached the room and checked the man, they suspected that he was experiencing the symptoms of an overdose. The officer used a Narcan injection on the man and he began to stabilize.
Officers with the Westfield Police Department searched the room, and the agency released a report stating that “a quantity of a suspected controlled dangerous substance and various items of drug paraphernalia were located in a closet in the classroom.” It was reported that the authorities purported that the substance they discovered was Fentanyl.
On January 5, the man received a summons through his lawyer informing him that he is being charged with third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and third-degree endangering the welfare of children. He is scheduled to appear in court on February 1.
The Westfield Public School District released a statement informing the public that their focus remains on making sure their students are learning in a safe environment. They are cooperating with the authorities during the investigation.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.