Scott Hazlett, the principal of Leto High School in Tampa, was arrested early Saturday morning on multiple charges, including possession of cocaine, the Temple Terrace Police Department confirmed.
The 40-year-old was pulled over near Fowler and 60th Street around 1:40 a.m. for speeding. Police say they discovered cocaine and drug paraphernalia during the stop. Hazlett also faces a charge of driving under the influence.
He was released about 10 hours later on a $3,500 bond.
Hillsborough County Schools had congratulated Hazlett just days earlier, on July 8, when he was named principal of Leto High. Following the arrest, the district placed him on administrative leave.
In a statement on Sunday, the school district acknowledged Hazlett’s long tenure since 2007 and expressed concern over the allegations. They assured support for students and staff during this challenging time. The interim principal will be Babita Artabasy, currently the assistant principal of administration.
Linda Unfried of MADD Hillsborough County emphasized the dangers of impaired driving and praised law enforcement for stopping Hazlett before a potential tragedy could occur.
Before joining Leto, Hazlett led a new international school in Vietnam in 2018 and returned to Hillsborough Schools in 2019 as an assistant principal.
