Police: School teacher sold heroin, pills while on break from class
Drum Intermediate School, University Place
TACOMA -- A 33-year-old school teacher living in Tacoma has been arrested and could face drug dealing charges after police said they discovered he was allegedly selling heroin and other contraband during school hours.
Sources tell Q13FOX News that teacher is Brian Bennett and the school where he has been teaching is Drum Intermediate School in University Place.
Brian Bennett
Police say they began investigating Bennett earlier in the year for selling narcotics. According to Tacoma Police Department Officer Loretta Cool, police stopped him Thursday leaving his home in the 8400 block of Phillips Road SW and arrested him for possible drug possession.
Officers served a warrant to his home and recovered Oxycodone pills and heroin. He allegedly admitted to selling both drugs, even leaving the Drum Intermediate School to sell during his break.
The suspect was adamant he did not sell drugs to his students, police sad.
He was booked into Pierce County Jail on suspicion of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and possession, but at this point no formal charges have been filed.
University Place Schools Superintendent Patti Banks said Bennett had been placed on paid administrative leave.
Banks said they were 'shocked and saddened' to hear the news and that she was unaware of any problems with him in the past.