Walker County Schools Employee Discovers Methamphetamine at North LaFayette Elementary; Arrest Made

On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, a Walker County Schools employee discovered a small plastic baggie containing a suspicious substance on the floor near the main entrance of North LaFayette Elementary School. The employee immediately turned the item over to the School Resource Officer (SRO), who conducted a field test that confirmed the substance was methamphetamine. The SRO promptly secured the evidence and launched an investigation in coordination with the Walker County Schools Facilities and Operations Department.

As part of the investigation, school officials and law enforcement officers reviewed security footage from the school. The footage revealed that the suspect had accidentally dropped the baggie while retrieving his cell phone. Officers then identified the vehicle the individual had exited upon arriving at the school, ultimately leading to the identification of the suspect.

The suspect was identified as Connor Shelton McCulley of Chattanooga, TN, who was on campus dropping off his girlfriend’s child at the time of the incident. Warrants were obtained through the Walker County Magistrate’s Office for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance on a School Campus, and Reckless Conduct. The warrants were then transferred to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (Tennessee) for service.

On Thursday, March 13, 2025, at approximately 9:00 a.m., officers with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office apprehended McCulley. He is currently awaiting extradition to Georgia.

The investigation is ongoing, with the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit (LMJC) Drug Task Force conducting follow-up inquiries. Additionally, a referral has been made to the Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS) in connection with the case.