SEMINOLE, Fla. — Pinellas County School police arrested a teacher at Starkey Elementary School today on two charges of carrying a concealed weapon.
Betty Jo Soto, 49, who teaches fourth grade, is currently being booked at the Pinellas County Jail.
The charges are reportedly misdemeanors.
Police said staff members noticed she was acting suspiciously and keeping her backpack close to her, so they notified campus police.
They took her to a room away from the students and found a 9 mm Glock handgun and seven rounds of ammunition in the bag.
Soto has a concealed weapons permit, but it does not allow her to carry a gun on school property, police said.
She had left the gun exposed when the backpack was left in the classroom, police said.
She was also found to be carrying two knives, one in her pants pocket and one in the strap of the backpack, according to an affidavit.
She will not be returning to school for the rest of the school year. School officials say they will take appropriate disciplinary action, but that won't be decided until the case makes its way through court, so the court verdict will determine what action will be taken.
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