Student overdoses after bus driver gives out fentanyl at school, California cops say
A school employee is accused of selling and providing fentanyl to students at a California school, police said.
Melissa Harloam-Garrison, 46, was arrested on May 17 at the Bright Futures Academy in Riverside, the Riverside Police Department said.
The school “serves over 150 students with severe behavioral problems, autism and other special needs,” according to their website.
The school did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment.
Police were called to the school around 4:30 p.m. regarding a student.
A school employee then told police another student had overdosed on what was suspected to be fentanyl the week before.
After an investigation, the school suspected Harloam-Garrison of giving students the drug while on campus.
Harloam-Garrison worked as a school bus driver and did campus security, police said.
Authorities found more than a hundred fentanyl pills, two handguns and ammunition inside the woman’s campus cottage where she lived with her husband.
Harloam-Garrison was arrested on charges of possession of narcotics for sale, sale of narcotics to minors, possession of controlled substances, possession of a firearm on school campus, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition and child endangerment.
Her husband was arrested on charges of possessing a firearm on campus and being a person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can contact the police at 951-353-7200. An anonymous email can also be sent to RPDTips@RiversideCA.gov.
This story was originally published May 20, 2022 at 4:41 PM with the headline "Student overdoses after bus driver gives out fentanyl at school, California cops say."
