The dean of students at Mt. Hope High School has resigned after he was arrested on felony drug possession charges.

William J. Pabst, 37, was arrested July 8 in East Providence and charged with two counts of felony possession of narcotics and one count of driving in possession of a controlled substance, according to the state criminal information database. Mr. Pabst allegedly had three baggies of cocaine and some Adderall on him when he was pulled over on Village Green South in East Providence. The report did not specify the amount of the drug Mr. Pabst allegedly possessed.

East Providence Police received a call for an erratic driver in the area of Village Green South and Pawtucket Avenue just after 11 p.m. on July 8. Officers responded, reportedly finding a black Chrysler parked in the Middle of Village Green South. 

After pulling the car over, officers noticed the driver “make furtive movements about the vehicle,” according to police reports. The driver also appeared to be “furiously fumbling around the glove compartment” and center console, leading Officer Zachary Bilodeau to fear the driver may have a weapon.

Officer Bilodeau told Mr. Pabst to keep his hands on the wheel, then get out of the car when backup arrived. As Mr. Pabst was getting out, officers saw a Ziplock bag tucked between the driver’s door and seat, reports indicate. The bag, with blue devil logos on it, contained a white powdery substance. Mr. Pabst at first denied knowing what the substance was, later saying, “You know it’s cocaine,” according to reports.

Police took Mr. Pabst to the police station, where police allegedly found two more Ziplock baggies containing suspected cocaine in Mr. Pabst’s back pocket. When he continued to act nervous and fumble with his was it band, police ordered a strip search, allegedly finding Adderall in his pocket.

During questioning, Mr. Pabst initially told police he was a bartender before acknowledging being dean of students at Mt. Hope.

Bristol Warren School District Superintendent Mario Andrade confirmed that Mr. Pabst submitted his resignation, which the Regional School Committee accepted on July 18. Dr. Andrade said he could not speak to any potential charges against Mr. Pabst. He acknowledged that, hypothetically, the school district would formally review such charges against a faculty or staff member. No such formal review had been undertaken before Mr. Pabst’s resignation.

The school administration has been interviewing replacement candidates, and a new dean of students at Mt. Hope, along with a new assistant principal and five new teachers, are expected to be announced at the school committee meeting scheduled for Aug. 9.

Mr. Pabst, who served just one year of his two-year contract at Mt. Hope, was released on personal recognizance and is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing Sept. 15.