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Written by: A. Smith
Published August 8, 2025 @ 11:07 AM ET
BULLOCH COUNTY, Ga. – Authorities say a school employee has been charged after cocaine was discovered inside Sallie Zetterower Elementary School on the first day of classes.
The Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident happened Aug. 1 when a custodian found a small, clear bag with a white substance on the floor of a commons area. A school administrator notified a School Resource Officer, who responded to the scene.
The bag was turned over to the sheriff’s office Crime Suppression Team for testing, which confirmed the substance was cocaine.
Bulloch County Schools’ Safety Director Todd Mashburn and school administrators reviewed security camera footage with investigators, leading to the identification of a suspect. The sheriff’s office said the suspect was an adult employee, later identified as Pamela Darien.
Darien is facing charges of possession of cocaine and violation of controlled substance laws within a drug-free zone. She turned herself in to the sheriff’s office on Aug. 6 at 12:30 p.m. and is no longer employed by the school district.
“At no point did any children come into contact with the substance,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
“The safety of our students and staff remains a top priority for both the Bulloch County School District and the Sheriff’s Office,” the statement continued. “We commend the swift actions of school personnel and law enforcement in responding to this matter.”