Biology teacher arrested on drug charges

BROOKSVILLE –
A 47-year-old biology teacher at Nature Coast Technical High School was arrested Saturday on drug charges.

During a traffic stop at 1:37 a.m., deputies saw that David Liptak, of Killian Street in Spring Hill, appeared “very nervous and was visibly shaking,” according to a sheriff’s report. When asked to exit his vehicle for a pat down, Liptak grabbed a black ‘fanny pack’ from the front seat and carried it to the rear of the vehicle.

In the pack, deputies found an Altoids container with a small plastic baggie containing a cut plastic straw and white powdery residue, which later tested positive for cocaine,

Liptak told deputies the Altoids container belonged to his girlfriend and that he does not use drugs.

He said he believed the baggie to be empty because his girlfriend “used it all “last night.

Liptak was arrested and charged with one count of possession of cocaine and one county of possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was taken to the Hernando County Jail and bond was set at $5,500.

Hernando County School Superintendent Bryan Blavatt said Liptak will immediately be relieved of duties pending an internal investigation.