Crime & Safety
Custodian Gave Pot, Alcohol To Students: Groton Police
A man is facing multiple charges after an investigation found he provided substances to students at a local high school, police say.
GROTON, CT — A custodial staff member at a Groton high school is facing charges of providing drugs and alcohol to minors, according to police.
The arrest comes following "a month-long investigation into the distribution of an illicit substance by a member of the custodial staff, to students at the Marine Science Magnet High School," according to a City of Groton police statement.
As a result of the investigation, police developed Thomas Ortiz, 37, of New London, as a suspect.
Find out what's happening in Grotonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
He was immediately placed on administrative leave and banned from school grounds after administrators found out about the accusations, police said.
Ortiz was charged with three counts of risk of injury to a minor/impairing the morals of a minor, three counts of illegal dispensing of cannabis or cannabis product, and one count of sale or delivery of alcohol to a minor.
Find out what's happening in Grotonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
School leadership was "made aware of a concern regarding an employee of a subcontractor" on Feb. 21, according to Lisa Cooney, a representative for LEARN, which operates the school. School leadership then took steps to prevent him from returning to campus during the investigation.
"This news is unsettling, and we want to assure our community that safety remains our highest priority," Cooney said. "LEARN remains committed to the highest standards of safety and accountability in collaboration with our subcontractors. We continuously review and strengthen our practices, including rigorous background checks and ongoing staff training, to promote the highest standards of care and safety."
Ortiz was held on a court set $75,000 cash/surety bond. He was scheduled for arraignment at New London Superior Court on Tuesday.
Anyone with information regarding ongoing criminal activity is asked to contact the City of Groton Police Department Detective Division at 860-446-4186.
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