A Toutle Lake Schools security guard was arrested Thursday after investigators said she let students use nicotine vapes in her office and warned them they would get in trouble if they reported her.
Ashlynn Smith, 47, of Ridgefield, was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail on suspicion of witness intimidation, witness tampering, electronic data theft and selling or giving tobacco to minors, the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office said.
The investigation began Oct. 24, when a parent reported that the guard was supplying vape products to students and vaping with them.
Investigators interviewed students and parents, reviewed phone and text records and worked with the school district, the sheriff’s office said.
They believe Smith confiscated a vaping device from a student and kept it in her office, where she allegedly let several students use nicotine vapes over a period of time.
As rumors spread through the school, Smith allegedly told students they would face consequences if they reported her.
The sheriff’s office said she also told students to lie to administrators and asked one student to email the school saying the rumors about her involvement were false.
Investigators also allege Smith accessed Skyward, the school’s student information system, without authorization to look up students’ personal and family information in an effort to intimidate them or interfere with reporting.
The sheriff’s office listed 12 suspected offenses at booking: two counts of intimidating a witness, three of tampering with a witness, two of electronic data theft and five of selling or giving tobacco to a minor.