Collier County teacher faces drug charges days before graduation

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK)—A Lely High School teacher was arrested Thursday after school administrators found fentanyl and cocaine in his backpack.

Collier County Sheriff's Office arrested 44-year-old Christopher Toukonen on drug-related charges. School administrators received two videos from students alleging that Toukonen was using narcotics at his desk inside a classroom.

Collier County Sheriff deputies did not confirm whether Toukonen was actually using the drugs, but say his movements in the video were consistent with ingesting narcotics. The report says that prompted an administrative search of the teacher's backpack, and staff found what they believed to be illegal narcotics.

When deputies tested the substances, they came back positive for cocaine and fentanyl.

"We were really shocked," said Laura Vega, a senior at Lely High School. "It was like, because it's never happened before."

Vega and fellow senior Flor Jose are just days away from walking at graduation. They say they never expected their freshman year teacher to walk out of the school in handcuffs.

"It's like someone that you just like trust," Jose said.

Toukonen's arrest report says he taught math at the school. WINK News reporter Maddie Herron spoke with students and community members about the arrest.

Sandy O'Connor and Jacki Strategos live near the high school.

"It's pretty startling," O'Connor said. "It's pretty upsetting."

"It was shocking to me that it's so close to home," Strategos said. "I did hear that they, I think all the schools send out an email blast to all the parents."

Lely High School Principal Jen Bledsoe sent an email to parents Thursday that says in part, "Any act that compromises the safety and well-being of students and staff, or the trust of our community, is taken seriously and addressed with immediate action."

Despite the shockwaves news of the arrest sent through the school, Vega said quick efforts from staff made her feel safe to come back.

"I felt comfortable coming, knowing that the staff members took it like very well and like handled everything quickly too," Vega said.

The Collier County Public School District says they do not comment on active investigations; however, they did say CCPS removed the teacher immediately and started the termination process. Meanwhile, the Collier County courts say Toukonen has since bonded out of jail.