Instead Of Giving His Teacher An Apple, 9-Year-Old Pinellas Student Gave Meth: Sheriff

PINELLAS PARK, FL — Instead of receiving the usual student gift of an apple, a Pinellas Park teacher was surprised Thursday when a 9-year-old student handed her two baggies filled with methamphetamine, authorities said.

The father of the 9-year-old Pinellas Park student, Joseph Dombrowsky, 49, of 43rd Street North, Pinellas Park, was arrested after the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said he stashed baggies containing methamphetamine in his son's school backpack.

Dombrowsky has been charged with one count of felony child neglect, two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in cocaine, possession of steroids with intent to sell, felon in possession of a firearm, resisting arrest without violence, possession of ketamine with intent to sell, trafficking in phenethylamines, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of possession of marijuana with intent to sell.

According to the sheriff's office, on Thursday school administrators reported that a student had given his teacher two clear plastic baggies containing a crystal-like substance. The child said his father put them in his backpack and the student found them while searching for some candy.

Deputies responded and tested the substance, weighing about 9 grams. The test came back positive for methamphetamine.

Detectives interviewed Dombrowsky, who denied any knowledge of how the two baggies of methamphetamine got into the child's backpack. Detectives said they learned Dombrowsky had used meth and ecstasy over the weekend and has five previous arrests in Pinellas County dating back to 2015 for trafficking in cocaine, ecstasy, alprazolam, adderall, oxycodone, anabolic steroids, hydromorphone and phenethylamine.

He is being held in jail on $255,500 bail.