LAKELAND, Fla. — A Lake Gibson High School employee was arrested Monday after Polk County deputies said she stole medication prescribed to a student.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office identified the woman as Theresa Salerno, 67, who faces a charge of grand theft of a controlled substance.
The investigation began on September 18 when school administrators reported the possible theft. A student’s prescription pill bottle, containing 30 pills, was brought to school by the child’s mother and counted alongside the school nurse.
Deputies said the bottle was then placed on Salerno’s desk. However, when the nurse later retrieved the bottle, nine pills were missing.
Surveillance footage showed Salerno picking up the bottle and walking out of view before returning it to the desk, holding her hand in a manner that suggested she was concealing something.
Salerno had left on a scheduled vacation during the initial investigation but returned to work on Monday. She admitted to removing the pills, claiming she was checking the medication to verify the pills were correct.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd condemned the act, stating, “There is absolutely no excuse for stealing medication prescribed to a child. School employees are entrusted to protect children, not harm them. She knew better and will be held accountable.”
The sheriff’s office has not disclosed Salerno’s specific role at the school.
