7-year-old finds crack cocaine in jacket

• Tweet

TAMPA, Fla., April 20 (UPI) -- School officials in Tampa, Fla., say a 7-year-old first grader told his teacher immediately when he discovered 89 grams of crack cocaine in his jacket pocket.

School district spokesman Steve Hegarty said the Forest Hills Elementary School student did not know what the drug was when he found it Tuesday morning, but "he knew it was something bad," the Tampa Tribune reported Friday.

Hegarty said the student asked to see the assistant principal, with whom he had bonded over breakfast at the school, and handed over his discovery.

"The student did everything we've taught students to do if they find or see something illegal. He notified a responsible adult," Principal Sandra Thrower wrote in a letter sent home to parents.

Tampa police said the child, who was not identified, is not in legal trouble but detectives spoke to family members Wednesday to try to determine how the crack cocaine got into the child's pocket. Police said the amount of the drug found by the child has a street value of about $8,900.