Iredell County Contract Substitute Teacher Arrested On Campus

For the second time this year, an Iredell County Substitute Teacher has been arrested on campus.

30-year-old Thobani Viki of Statesville was arrested Monday by Iredell County Sheriff’s Deputies. He’s charged with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, and possession of a malt beverage on school property.

School staff members at Third Creek Middle School noticed a very strong odor of marijuana coming from a classroom in the school. Staff members immediately asked the School Resource Officer to investigate.

The deputy entered the classroom and noticed the odor of Marijuana coming from the area of the teacher’s desk. When asked about the scent, the substitute teacher, Thobani Viki, made statements about possessing marijuana. Viki is not an Iredell-Statesville School System (ISS) employee. He is employed through ESS, Educational Staffing Solutions, which contracts with ISS to fill positions within the school system.

A search of Viki’s belongings resulted in the discovery of marijuana, several packages of marijuana cigarette materials, and four cans of Twisted Ice Tea, which is 5 percent alcohol by volume. Viki was arrested at the school and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center. He was placed in jail under $10,000 secured bond and remained in jail as of earlier today. An Iredell County District Court date is set for May 9.

In January, a teacher assistant was charged with possession of wine in a classroom at Shepherd Elementary School.

Photo: Iredell County Sheriff’s Office