September 20, 2012

Gardiner teacher faces drug charges

By Craig Crosby ccrosby@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

GARDINER -- A Gardiner Area High School math teacher is among three people who were charged with drug offenses after police conducted a random search at the school last week.

Tyson Greifzu, 44, of Fayette is charged with sale and use of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of drugs, said Police Chief James Toman. He wouldn't specify what drug Greifzu is charged with possessing.

Greifzu is scheduled to appear in Augusta District Court on Nov. 7.

Charged after the same search were two 16-year-old boys. A teenager from Randolph was charged with marijuana possession and a boy from Jefferson was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, Toman said.

The names of the teenagers were withheld because they are juveniles. Toman said all of those charged were issued court summonses. There were no arrests.

Greifzu did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Regional School Unit 11 Superintendent Patricia Hopkins confirmed Thursday that a summons was issued to a staff member after the search.

"That staff member is on paid administrative leave until we can complete our thorough investigation," Hopkins said. "That's really all I can say."

Toman confirmed that the staff member is Greifzu. The Gardiner High School website says that Greifzu is a math teacher at the school. Greifzu, according to his Facebook page, has taught at the school since 2000.

Toman said the random search on Sept. 13 was done by officers from his department, and dogs and officers from the Maine State Police and other agencies. Similar searches have been conducted several times in the past few years, Toman said.

The drug search included the high school building and its parking lot. During the search in the parking lot, the dogs hit on three vehicles, Toman said.

Published reports indicate that Greifzu ran for the school board in 2006 and lost in a three-way race.

Kennebec Journal Staff Writer Craig Crosby can be contacted at 621-5642 or at:

ccrosby@centralmaine.com

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