Middle-School Teacher Charged After Overdosing On Fentanyl In Front Of His Students

A middle school art teacher in a New Jersey suburb was arrested after he overdosed in front of the students, according to authorities.

According to the Westfield Police Department, Frank Thompson, a 57-year-old teacher at Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield, was discovered unconscious and unresponsive in a second-floor classroom shortly after 9 a.m. on November 29, 2022.

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According to the police, Thompson was being actively treated by a school nurse when policemen arrived after being first noticed in distress by kids.

The teacher was given a shot of the naloxone hydrochloride, or Narcan, that the responding police officer carried on his person as soon as he saw the warning signals that the teacher was overdosing on drugs, according to the police.

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According to the authorities, Thompson rapidly began to show indications of improvement.

In the classroom closet, investigators found fentanyl and other items during a subsequent investigation.

The school system claimed in a letter to parents that the classroom had been locked off and afterward disinfected, according to Fox 5.

Thompson was charged on Thursday with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, endangering the welfare of children, and a disorderly person crime even though the event happened in November, according to police.

On February 1st, he is due in court.

“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.”