Many of us adults remember all of the anti-drug lessons we were taught in school as kids, but one Louisiana middle school teacher seems to have forgotten them. Virginia Somers was recently arrested after a random drug search at work. A drug-sniffing dog was merely doing its job when it found drugs in her backpack. Things only got worse for the teacher when police then decided to search her car.
Police performed a random drug search at Westdale Middle School in Baton Rouge on September 16, 2025, WAFB reported. A drug dog located the bag of 47-year-old Virginia Somers, who teaches Math Intervention at the school.
Inside Somers’ bag, the dog found something in her wallet. Police tested the substance, identifying it as cocaine. Somers claimed it wasn’t hers. She claimed a friend had asked her to hold onto it while they attended an Louisiana State University football game the previous weekend.
A probable cause report obtained by Law & Crime stated that Somers told police that even though the cocaine wasn’t hers, “she did snort” some at a tailgate party before the LSU game.
After finding the drugs in her wallet, police asked the woman if they could search her car. She consented. When they opened the car, they found “marijuana pipes,” marijuana, and lighters stored in a bag in her glove compartment. According to the report, police confiscated 0.8 grams of cocaine and 0.5 grams of marijuana from Somers.
Virginia Somers faces charges of possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and violation of controlled dangerous substances in a school zone. She was expected to appear in court on September 17.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Public School System released a statement about the incident via WAFB.
“During a random drug search conducted on campus, an employee was found to be in possession of illegal substances. This matter is being handled in accordance with East Baton Rouge Parish Schools policy and procedures,” the statement reads.
“Please be assured that this behavior is not condoned by our district and we remain committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and drug-free environment for all students and staff.”
