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Friday, March 29, 2024

First-grade teacher at Hammett Bowen Elementary School facing felony drug possession charges

A 37-year-old teacher at Hammett Bowen Elementary School was arrested after a pill bottle containing MDMA was located inside her classroom’s bathroom.

On Tuesday, a Marion County Sheriff’s Office corporal responded to the elementary school, which is located at 4397 SW 95th Street in Ocala, in reference to a teacher’s behavior.

A school resource officer had been notified by school administrators that a first-grade teacher, identified as Hiromi Nakagawa Adams, was exhibiting behavior that was concerning other staff members.

Hiromi Nakagawa Adams
Hiromi Nakagawa Adams

Adams was sent to the school’s clinic for a wellness check. Several teachers observed Adams as she entered her classroom’s bathroom before leaving the school. Since students also use the bathroom, staff was concerned that Adams might have left something inside.

According to the MCSO report, a search of the bathroom was conducted, and a small yellow bag was found on top of a shelf. The bag contained a pill bottle with Adams’ name on it.

When the pill bottle was opened, the corporal observed a red straw, half of a green pill, and a small folded up plastic baggie which was filled with a green powder. A field-test was conducted on the straw and green powder, and the results were positive for the presence of MDMA (also known as “ecstasy”).

Adams was located off-campus by an MCSO deputy. During a search of Adams, the deputy discovered that she was also in possession of Suboxone.

Adams was arrested, transported to Marion County Jail, and she was later released on $4,000 bond. She is facing several felony charges for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.

A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.