Humble ISD teacher among 4 arrested in drug bust

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – It sounds like an episode from the hit television series, "Breaking Bad." A Humble Independent School District elementary school teacher and three alleged accomplices arrested in her Porter apartment in Montgomery County on drug charges.

Montgomery County Precinct 4 constable deputies said Monica Quintero, 31, was arrested early Wednesday morning at her home in Porter, along with three other men. Quintero has since been released from the Montgomery County Jail, but remains on administrative leave.

Deputies said they responded to a call for a foul smell coming from an apartment in the Villas of Valley Ranch Apartment Complex at 21899 Valley Ranch Crossing late Tuesday.

Investigators said once inside the apartment deputies found multiple types of drugs and needles, thousands of dollars worth of tools, including new unopened Dewalt, Dremmel and Kobalt tools, several Segway scooters and several weapons. Of the eight guns found, deputies said two of them had been reported stolen through the Houston Police Department.

Deputies said among the drug seized were 15 grams of liquid heroin, 101 grams of black tar heroin, 50 grams of GHB, commonly known as the date rape drug, and a large assortment of pills, including Adderall, Oxycontin and Xanax.

Quintero is a first grade bilingual teacher at Ridge Creek Elementary School in Humble ISD. According to district spokesperson Jamie Mount, Quintero has worked for the district since August of 2007 as a bilingual elementary teacher.  Quintero was in the classroom as recently as Tuesday, prior to her arrest.

Parent Luis Rubio was shocked to hear of Quintero's arrest. Rubio's two children are both former students of Quintero's.  "My kids loved her. She looked very nice, she looked like a good person, but we don't know," said Rubio.

Humble ISD released this statement Wednesday night, "With the arrest, the teacher is immediately put on leave while the charges work their way through the court system. District officials are now in the process of obtaining information about the allegations from Montgomery County officials. The district works cooperatively with law enforcement for the safety and welfare of all students."

Officials said Quintero, her boyfriend 31-year-old Andrew Barclay Zick, 34-year-old Mackinley and Breeden, 30-year-old James Robert Zipperer were arrested and booked into the Montgomery County Jail on various drug charges.

Quintero and Zipperer are both charged with three counts of manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance.

Breeden is being held without bond for three counts of manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance.

Zick is charged with one count of manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He had a warrant for a prior case and is being held without bond.


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