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.
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