A Florida high school teacher is out of a job — and facing serious felony charges — after deputies say fentanyl and cocaine were discovered inside his backpack while he was on campus.
According to authorities, 44-year-old Christopher D. Toukonen, a teacher at Lely High School, was arrested Thursday after school administrators reportedly became concerned he may have been using narcotics while alone inside a classroom.
Investigators with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office say administrators searched Toukonen’s backpack after receiving the alarming information and allegedly found suspected illegal drugs inside. Deputies were then called to the school to investigate.
Police say detectives later determined Toukonen was allegedly carrying a “mixture” of fentanyl and cocaine, along with narcotic paraphernalia. He was booked into the Collier County Jail on felony drug possession charges.
The case has sent shockwaves through the local community, especially because the incident allegedly happened on school grounds. Authorities emphasized that no students were reportedly present in the classroom at the time.
School officials moved quickly after the discovery. Collier County Public Schools confirmed Toukonen has been terminated from his position.
In a statement, the district said, “Any act that compromises the safety and well-being of students and staff, or the trust of our community, is taken seriously and addressed with immediate action.”
Toukonen later posted bail and was released from custody Thursday evening, according to reports.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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why is this a big deal to you? This is the way it is supposed to work. Dr. Schlatter
He’s not concerned. The teacher’s union will have him back on the job in short order. And he’ll probably be awarded any lost pay as well.