BAY MINETTE — For the second time in less than a year, Bay Minette police left Bay Minette Middle School with an employee in tow, charged with drug-related offenses.

Burton Cornelius Beck Jr., 35, was arrested Thursday and charged with second-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

"During a K-9 training exercise at the Bay Minette Middle School, officers discovered marijuana and assorted pills in one of the school's offices," Chief Michael Rowland said. "Further investigation revealed that the office was occupied by (Beck), who is a counselor at the school."

Rowland said a subsequent search of Beck's car revealed additional marijuana. Beck was arrested and booked into the Baldwin County Correction Center on $2,000 bond.

K-9 units from the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, Mobile County Sheriff's Office and Saraland Police Department participated with local K-9 officer Buster in this exercise.

Just two weeks into the academic year, on Aug. 21, 2009, Nicholas Pope, a 25-year-old special education teacher and assistant seventh-grade football coach at the school, was arrested and charged with public intoxication and illegal possession of prescription drugs.

At that time, Pope was reportedly in possession of Suboxone, for which he had a legal prescription. According to police, Suboxone is a drug normally used to treat addiction to opiates.

Pope was put on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the police investigation and review by the Board of Education's human resources division, according to Terry Wilhite, director of communications for Baldwin County Public Schools, but resigned a few weeks after his arrest.

Wilhite was unavailable for comment on Beck's arrest because of impending inclement weather conditions affecting Baldwin County Schools.

Bay Minette Mayor Jamie Tillery said she places her trust in the law enforcement officials.

"The city of Bay Minette is dedicated to the safety of our children. We are confident of our law enforcement and that all official procedures and protocols are being addressed for a quick, efficient and effective investigation in this case," she said.