South Lake Tahoe, CALIFORNIA

School district psychologist arrested on drug cultivation charges.

Jan 25, 2008 - Lake Tahoe Unified School District school psychologist Cynthia Anne Norris and her common-law husband, were arrested on marijuana growing charges.

Norris was booked on suspicion of marijuana cultivation and child endangerment. The allegation of child endangerment arose from the unsafe living conditions in the home resulting from the marijuana grow. He was arrested on drug charges AND a felony warrant involving firearm possession.

THE RAID (Jan 24) The house was condemned after the raid as a fire hazard for unsafe wiring and carbon dioxide used for the alleged grow operation created a health hazard. Police found 93 plants. At the time of the raid, police were trying to locate Norris who was thought to be on the run with their 12-year-old son. The couple's 12-year-old son was placed in the care of Child Protective Services on Thursday

Task force commander for the South Lake El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team, Jeff Catchings estimated the value of the grow at between $35,000 and $40,000.

Norris has been placed on paid administrative leave pending investigation.

Norris' arrest marks the second school district employee to be taken into custody in the past two months on suspicion of growing marijuana. Tamara Allen, a fourth-grade teacher at Bijou Community School, was arrested in December and has been charged with two federal felonies after police officers allegedly found $1,400 in cash, 100 marijuana plants and two to three pounds of processed marijuana in her Glen Road home. TT - Link for Tamara Allen

From the Lake Tahoe Unified School District web site: "Your children are surrounded daily by professionals who have dedicated their lives to helping their students; in the event of an emergency, you can count on these caring individuals to keep your children secure. All employees in the LTUSD continue to work to make all our schools safe and secure environments." In 2004-2005 there were 6 student suspensions related to possession or sale of controlled substances, alcohol, or intoxicants. The 2006-2007 link doesn't work.