A teacher at Richard Milburn Academy and former Daytona Beach Police officer is facing charges, including five felony drug-related counts, after a Jan. 23 bust.
Amber Williamson, 40, was arrested at an apartment at The Bradley, 1560 Alexis Ave., Daytona Beach.
According to her arrest affidavit, the East Volusia Narcotics Task Force and Volusia County SWAT executed a search warrant at around 6 a.m. in a case that started with a Port Orange Police investigation.
No one answered the door after a knock and commands given through a public announcement system.
A SWAT team member witnessed Marcus Plowden and Williamson exiting the master bedroom. Another couple were found in another bedroom, the affidavit stated.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood described Plowden, 28, as Williamson’s boyfriend, but Williamson told law enforcement they “are not in a relationship but sleep in the same bed.”
Detectives found a baggie with a white substance floating inside the master bedroom toilet and powder residue around the toilet rim, according to the affidavit.
What charges are Amber Williamson, Marcus Plowden facing?
The SWAT search turned up fentanyl, marijuana, crack cocaine, other controlled substances and at least two guns, the affidavit stated.
Plowden is facing 11 charges, including nine felonies. The charges include heroin trafficking and cocaine possession with intent to sell.
Williamson is facing a total of six counts, including heroin trafficking, cocaine possession with intent to sell and possession of controlled substances without a prescription.
She told detectives all the drugs and related items that were found in the apartment belong to Plowden, and that she was aware that he sells cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl.
“Amber stated that Marcus has had her deliver drugs to his clients when he’s been unable to because he’s busy or out of town,” the affidavit stated.
Sheriff Chitwood, who once hired Amber Williamson, calls case ‘sickening’
Chitwood said in a Facebook video made during the bust that he hired Williamson as a police officer in Daytona Beach in 2009, and that she worked there for 10 years before becoming a teacher.
“She’s in for a rude awakening here in the next couple of minutes,” Chitwood said. “We’re going to execute a search warrant, and I would suspect that her boyfriend is going back to prison again, and she’ll be going with him.”
The video showed a heavy SWAT presence entering the apartment, then Williamson, handcuffed, facing a wall.
“Amber, you know the good guys always win, don’t you?” Chitwood said, as he walked past her into the apartment.
“Not only is it sickening that somebody who took an oath to protect the streets of Daytona Beach is working with kids and is out there peddling this poison, destroying families, and destroying lives.”
In 2010, Williamson was honored with a “Chief’s Award” at the Daytona Beach Police Department’s Law Enforcement Awards.
The News-Journal reached out to Richard Milburn Academy. A man who identified himself as the principal but declined to give his name said he had no comment.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Beach teacher, former cop charged in drug bust
Reporting by Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
