On August 17, 2023, Leslie Minter Johnson, a nurse working at Godwin High School, was apprehended on the school premises, as reported by the authorities. The reason for her apprehension, according to the police, stemmed from a routine traffic stop due to an expired vehicle inspection. However, during the course of this stop, law enforcement officers uncovered substances suspected to be drugs within her automobile.
Henrico County police recounted that on the morning of August 17, they halted Johnson’s vehicle because her license plate had expired. Details reveal that as she was navigating Ridgefield Parkway, Leslie Minter Johnson turned into the parking lot of Mills E. Godwin High School.
The officers involved in the traffic stop attested to the discovery of various items associated with drug use within the car. Subsequent to calling for backup, an extensive search of the vehicle was conducted, promptly revealing additional illegal substances and items linked to drug-related activities.
Leslie Minter Johnson charge: Why was the nurse arrested
Having held a nursing license for two decades, Leslie Minter Johnson has an extensive 20-year career in nursing. On August 17, Leslie Minter Johnson came under scrutiny when law enforcement, during a routine traffic stop, discovered a variety of drug-related items within her vehicle.
Subsequently, she faced allegations of two felonies pertaining to the possession of schedule I or II substances, alongside two misdemeanors connected to the transportation of schedule III or IV substances. A representative from the Henrico Police Department provided the following statement:
“The driver entered the premises of Godwin High School, marking the commencement of the traffic halt along the eastbound Ridgefield Parkway. A collection of drug paraphernalia was unearthed within the vehicle by the officer. Additional law enforcement officers arrived on-site, leading to a comprehensive vehicle search. This search yielded various narcotics and items associated with drug use.”
In accordance with the statutes outlined by Virginia Law, drugs categorized as Schedule I and II encompass substances such as heroin, LSD, opiates, cocaine, and fentanyl. Meanwhile, drugs classified as Schedule III and IV encompass substances like steroids and a variety of sedatives. In addition to the aforementioned drug-related charges, authorities also accused Johnson of operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked driver’s license.
Henrico County Public Schools Statement
In the aftermath of the arrest, a statement provided to WTVR by Ken Blackstone, spokesperson for Henrico Schools, revealed that Leslie Minter Johnson, a seasoned nurse with over two decades of licensure, has been put on administrative leave.
Ken Blackstone conveyed, “Within Henrico County Public Schools, there exists an employee by the name of Leslie M. Johnson, presently undergoing administrative leave as part of an ongoing personnel issue.”
Online court records indicate that Johnson, who remained in custody after being apprehended and not posting bail, has been detained until her scheduled court appearance in October. If you possess any information regarding Jhonson’s arrest and the associated charges, you are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 804-780-100 or reach out to Henrico Police at 804-501-5000.
Students’ Abuse of Controlled Substance
A connected event took place when the school nurse from Oblong was apprehended in July under suspicion of possessing drugs and committing theft. The alleged action involved taking medication from one of the students. A resident of Oblong named Valerie Ping, aged 45 was taken into custody due to suspicions of both thefts and having an illicit substance.
Ping, who pleaded not guilty, was granted release after she posted bail amounting to $10,000.
