A Spring Creek Elementary School teacher is still on the job despite a citation to court involving three baggies of marijuana.
County School officials said, "In situations where the charges are misdemeanors, the employee can continue to work until the disposition of the case. All charges, in this case, are misdemeanors. The situation is reviewed again after the judicial process is completed."
Kenneth Blaser, 31, of Ooltewah, was arrested on Jan. 17 along with Rhianna Cantrell, 27, of Signal Mountain. Ms. Cantrell is a long-term substitute at the school.
A city police officer said he was at 2 Aquarium Way at 12:30 a.m. when he observed a blue Nissan with an expired license plate from July 2018.
He said he then saw the vehicle make a lane change in the intersection of N. Market Street and Cherokee Boulevard without using a turn signal.
He said after he stopped the vehicle, he noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from it.
The officer said Blaser gave him a handgun carry permit and advised that there was a firearm in the glovebox that belonged to him. The officer removed the gun from the vehicle "for safety during the traffic stop."
He said he checked the information on both Blaser and Ms. Cantrell, then he asked Blaser to exit the car. He said he asked him if he had anything illegal in the vehicle.
Blaser said there was nothing illegal in the vehicle and he did not know why the officer smelled marijuana.
The officer then asked Ms. Cantrell and she said there was "a little bit of marijuana" in the center console. She said it belonged to both of them.
When the officer searched the car, he located three baggies of marijuana that weighed 10.6 grams.
He also found a glass pipe with burnt marijuana in it, and some filters for the pipe.
Both said they had used marijuana at approximately 9:50 p.m.
The officer issued a misdemeanor citation to Blaser for auto registration, improper lane change, simple possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He issued a misdemeanor citation to Ms. Cantrell for simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
School officials said both Blaser and Ms. Cantrell were at school the next morning.