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Baton Rouge teacher arrested after drug search reveals cocaine, marijuana
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A teacher at a Baton Rouge school was arrested on Tuesday after being accused of having drugs on school grounds.
According to police records, the School Drug Task Force performed a random dog search at Westdale Middle School. During the search, a K-9 was alerted to a book sack near the teacher's desk. The teacher was later identified as Virginia Somers, 47, of Florida.
Deputies searched Somers's wallet in her bag and found cocaine, officials said.
Authorities said Somers later confessed that she received the drugs from a friend during the LSU tailgate, and admitted to participating in taking the cocaine at the tailgate.
Investigators later asked to search Somers' vehicle, which she agreed to. After the search, deputies found marijuana, pipes and lighters in a bag in the glove compartment.
Somers has taught mathematics at Westdale Middle School for two years and has been an educator for 13 years.
The East Baton Rouge Parish School System shared a statement saying, "Please be assured that 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."
She was arrested and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of possession of a Schedule II drug, violations of controlled dangerous substances in a school zone, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.