A 33-year-old DeLand woman was arrested near a local middle school after cocaine and drug-related paraphernalia were allegedly found in her possession.
On Thursday, November 6, DeLand Police Department officers responded to DeLand Middle School (1400 Aquarius Avenue) after receiving reports of a “suspicious individual” in the area. Upon arrival, officers allegedly observed a woman, later identified as Laura Catherine Getsy, who was “acting suspiciously outside of school grounds,” according to DPD.
The police department stated that Getsy attempted to run away from the officers. After a brief foot chase, she was taken into custody.
During an investigation, DPD officers allegedly found drug paraphernalia in close proximity to the school’s bus loading area, which is where Getsy had been observed by law enforcement.
The officers ultimately determined that there was no direct threat to any of the middle school’s students or faculty members.
Getsy was placed under arrest and booked into Volusia County Jail, where she remains in custody. She is being charged with seven counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance with out a prescription, manufacturing cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, resisting arrest with violence, two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, and giving a false name upon being arrested/detained.
“Thank you to our DeLand Middle School Resource Officer and Patrol Division who handled the situation professionally and quickly,” said DPD in a media release.