The driver of a special education school van was arrested in Walpole on charges of buying drugs between his morning and afternoon runs, officials said.
Rodney Lampron, 54, of Norwood, was arrested at a Main Street apartment Tuesday on charges of possession of cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug laws, Walpole Deputy Police Chief John Carmichael said.
Police had been conducting surveillance at that location for two months as part of a drug investigation. They saw Lampron arrive in the school van multiple times during those months, Carmichael said.
Lampron worked as a van driver for YCN Transportation Inc. of Norwood. He was responsible for taking Needham students to and from their private special education school, according to a letter to parents from Needham Schools Superintendent Dan Gutekanst. No students were on the van during the alleged drug buys.
After his arrest, Lampron was fired by the company. A substitute driver has been put in his place, Gutekanst said.
The company declined to comment on Friday.
According to the letter from Gutekanst, the school checked the driver for criminal and sexual offense records prior to hiring him, but found no criminal past. The school also conducts random drug testing of school van and bus drivers, he wrote.
“Rest assured that we take all matters related to student safety very seriously,” Gutekanst said in the letter. “We will continue to work with YCN Transportation as well as all of our special education transportation vendors to be certain student safety remains the top priority.”
Aneri Pattani can be reached at aneri.pattani@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @apattani95.