WESTFIELD, N.J. (1010 WINS) — A New Jersey middle school art teacher was hit with drug possession and child endangerment charges after he overdosed on fentanyl in front of his students in November, authorities said Friday.
Just after 9 a.m. on Nov. 29, officers responded to a report from Roosevelt Intermediate School in Westfield about a teacher who was unconscious in their classroom.
Cops found 57-year-old Frank Thompson on the floor of his art classroom unresponsive, being treated by the school nurse.
When an officer noticed Thompson was overdosing, he administered Naloxone to him which revived him. It was later determined to be fentanyl which caused the overdose.
During an investigation, police found suspected controlled dangerous substances and various items of drug paraphernalia inside of a closet in the classroom.
On Thursday, Thompson was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of children.
The teacher’s next court date is Feb. 1.
"The Westfield Police Department continues to prioritize its ongoing partnership with the Westfield Public School System to ensure it has the safety and security resources it needs on a daily basis," said Chief Christopher Battiloro. "In this case, the swift actions of Officer Riga, who is on-site at Roosevelt Intermediate each school day, proved instrumental in maintaining the safety of the students and administering potentially life-saving measures to Mr. Thompson."
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