On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, a Walker County Schools staff member found a small plastic baggie with a suspicious substance near the main entrance of North LaFayette Elementary School. The employee immediately handed over the item to the School Resource Officer (SRO), who conducted a field test that confirmed the substance was methamphetamine. The SRO secured the evidence and initiated an investigation, working closely with the Walker County Schools Facilities and Operations Department.
During the investigation, school officials and law enforcement officers reviewed the school’s security footage, which showed that the suspect had accidentally dropped the bag while retrieving his cell phone. Officers were able to identify the vehicle the suspect used to arrive at the school, leading to his identification.
The suspect was later identified as Connor Shelton McCulley, a Chattanooga, TN resident, who had been on the campus to drop off his girlfriend’s child at the time of the incident. Warrants were obtained from the Walker County Magistrate’s Office, charging McCulley with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance on a School Campus, and Reckless Conduct. These warrants were transferred to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (Tennessee) for execution.
On Thursday, March 13, 2025, at around 9:00 a.m., Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office officers apprehended McCulley. He is currently awaiting extradition to Georgia.
The investigation remains active, with the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit (LMJC) Drug Task Force continuing their inquiries. Additionally, a referral has been made to the Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS) as part of the ongoing investigation.
