An educator at Palm Coast’s Old Kings Elementary School was arrested Tuesday for allegedly stealing a coworker’s prescription medication. 51-year-old Deborah Gibbens, an exceptional student education (ESE) teacher at OKES, was taken into custody in Volusia County where she resides.
A school resources deputy at Old Kings Elementary was contacted on Monday when an employee told them she had video of her coworker stealing her medication. The victim reportedly discovered several hydrocodone pills missing three weeks earlier.
The victim was said to store her medication in a backpack she keeps in her office. Upon discovering the missing pills, she set up a surveillance camera according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. On Monday, she found two of four pills missing and went to examine the footage.
When she checked the surveillance camera, the victim said she saw Gibbens looking through the backpack, removing the pill container, and then putting it back and closing the backpack. Initially she wasn’t sure how Gibbens would even know about where she stored her medication.
The school resource deputy met with Gibbens and confronted her about the alleged theft, the FCSO says. Gibbens reportedly denied going through the backpack. Once she was informed of the footage, she was then said to have admitted to taking pills multiple times beginning on August 31. Still, Gibbens told the deputy she believed she was taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
The victim opted not to press charges against Gibbens. Still, on Tuesday, deputies obtained an arrest warrant charging Gibbens with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. The Ormond Beach Police Department arrested Gibbens, an Ormond Beach resident, and booked her into the Volusia County Branch Jail. She was released less than two hours later on $2,500 bond.
“Flagler Schools remains deeply proud of and confident in our extraordinary faculty and staff who serve our students with dedication and care every day,” said Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore. One individual’s poor choice is in no way a reflection of the amazing employees across our district. When issues arise that require investigation, we take them seriously and cooperate fully with the necessary parties. Our primary focus remains on supporting our students and the incredible educators who serve them.”
