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Investigators at the Visalia Police Department say the drug bust and arrest a few blocks from Visalia Charter Independent Study Friday morning was the direct result of a tip from a student at the school. <br /><br />22 year-old Christopher McGowen has worked at Visalia Charter Independent Study as a janitor for almost a year. A student at the school told a teacher McGowen might be selling drugs to students. <br /><br />Investigators then raided McGowen’s home a few blocks away and say they found an active drug lab, counterfeit money and scales, along with a series of drugs including marijuana, LSD and ecstasy. <br /><br /> Parents at the school reacted to the news. <br /><br />"I just found out right now and I’m still shocked. I’m just glad I don’t have to worry about that in my home with my children," said Bubba Rodriguez, a parent of a current student and graduate of the school. <br /><br />Parents and school district leaders agree they’re proud that one of the students spoke up. <br /><br /> "You know that’s the way most these things happen is students come to an adult and talk about something they see that doesn’t seem right and no matter what the incident is we count on students, parents, and school employees to be vigilant," said Visalia Unified School District Superintendent Craig Wheaton. <br /><br />"It’s not easy in this society you know there’s cultures with the streets where you don’t snitch you don’t rat and this school’s trying to break that from happening and it’s not easy to do and for someone to be able to that man. It takes some courage," said Rodriguez. <br /><br />Investigators say they still aren’t certain if McGowen was dealing drugs to students, but this arrest assures he won’t have the opportunity going forward. The school district has placed McGowen on administrative leave.</div>
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