Early Tuesday morning a tip to school staff at J.E.J. Moore Middle School led to a teacher being called to the office.
Then a short time later Darin Smith Vaughn, age 47, was taken to Riverside Regional Jail.
“We had a tip immediately of a staff member coming in, possibly under the influence of alcohol,” Bobby Browder, Prince George Schools superintendent, said.
"The school resource officer at the school was notified that his presence was requested; assistance needed, there at the school,” Lt. Paul Burroughs, Prince George county police, said.
Administrators were concerned with students arriving and school about to start.
“He was isolated from the classroom, into the administrative offices,” Browder said.
Browder said school administrators followed specific, established procedures, as did the school resource officer.
Lt. Burroughs said that "drunk in public" is a class four misdemeanor.
"Children at that age put a lot of trust in their teacher and to have someone that they know who is there to lead them, teach them, in that condition...,” Terri Stephenson, grandparent of a middle school student, said.
Parents and grandparents were surprised at what happened but said they feel officials handled it the right way and are glad the teacher was arrested.
