Welcome to Arrest Stories. A veteran middle school math teacher in East Baton Rouge Parish faces drug charges after a routine canine search at her school uncovered cocaine in her wallet and marijuana in her vehicle. Here's what may have happened.
On Tuesday, September sixteenth, what started as a typical day at Westdale Middle School took a shocking turn when a drug detection dog made an unexpected discovery. Forty-seven-year-old Virginia Somers, a Math Intervention teacher with more than a decade of classroom experience, found herself in handcuffs after the canine alerted officials to illegal substances in her possession.
During the random lockdown drug search, the trained dog led officers directly to Somers' bag, where they discovered cocaine hidden inside her personal wallet. The investigation didn't stop there. When authorities expanded their search to include Somers' vehicle parked on school grounds, they uncovered additional contraband including marijuana and drug paraphernalia pipes.
According to police reports, Somers offered an explanation for the cocaine discovery, telling officials the drugs belonged to a friend who had given them to her during an LSU football tailgate the previous Saturday. She allegedly admitted to using cocaine at the tailgate event and claimed the substances were provided to her free of charge by an acquaintance.
The East Baton Rouge Parish School District responded swiftly to the incident. District officials released a statement saying, "During a random drug search conducted on campus, an employee was found to be in possession of illegal substances. This matter is being handled in accordance with East Baton Rouge Parish Schools policy and procedures."
The district emphasized their zero-tolerance stance, stating "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."
The arrest has sent shockwaves through the Westdale Middle School community, where Somers had been trusted to educate and mentor young students in mathematics.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.