Pubdate: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) Copyright: 2005 Lexington Herald-Leader Contact: http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240 Author: Lee Mueller, Eastern Kentucky Bureau TEEN'S OVERDOSE LEADS TO PIKE PRINCIPAL'S ARREST Boy Allegedly Ingested Mushrooms At School Official's Home PIKEVILLE - A Pike County elementary school principal was arrested Saturday after a 17-year-old boy apparently overdosed on hallucinogenic mushrooms at his home, state police said. Kyle Tackett, 32, a well-regarded principal at G.F. Johnson Elementary School at Virgie, "admitted to doing mushrooms" after police responded to his 911 call and the teenager was admitted to Pikeville Medical Center at 2:57 a.m. Saturday, according to an arrest citation. The teen's condition was not available yesterday. Tackett was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor; second-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense; possession of marijuana; and first-degree unlawful transaction with a minor. Pike County school officials suspended Tackett with pay yesterday, and his supporters expressed shock and dismay. Test scores at G.F. Johnson are the highest in the system, and Tackett -- a minister esteemed by parents and his staff -- has been considered one of the district's "rising stars," supporters said. Tackett was principal at Grapevine Elementary until it closed two years ago. "I think it took everyone by surprise," said Tonia Hopson, the district's instructional supervisor, who substituted yesterday for Tackett at the K-5 school. He had been absent from school before last weekend, recovering from an injury, she said. "The faculty loved him and so did the kids," Hopson said. "It's been a little bit teary-eyed here today." Trooper Ivan Sewell said Tackett initially told a 911 dispatcher at 2:57 a.m. Saturday that a boy had been assaulted at his home. After meeting the boy in the road at Tackett's home, Sewell went into the principal's living room. "We searched the premises and found several drugs," Sewell wrote. Tackett was placed in the Pike County Detention Center at 6:30 a.m. and released at 2:20 p.m. after posting a $10,000 cash bond, jail officials said. Arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 28 in Pike District Court. - --- MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman