More details released in Aynor High teacher’s drug arrest

A former Horry County Teacher of the Year is free on $5,000 bail following an arrest on a drug charge that stemmed from a package sent to him through the mail that contained methamphetamine, according to authorities.

Robert Dean Johnson, 51, of Galivants Ferry was charged Tuesday with first-offense manufacturing, distribution or possession with intent to distribute crank or crack cocaine, according to records at J. Reuben Long Detention Center. He was released Thursday on bail.

Johnson was named Aynor High School’s Teacher of the Year in 2012, five years after he was hired by the school district as a substitute teacher.

Johnson began teaching at Aynor High School in 2009 as a career and technology teacher, Horry County Schools spokeswoman Teal Harding said. He is on administrative leave with pay until an administrative review is complete.

The police report and arrest affidavit show that Horry County police worked with the U.S. Postal Service to investigate a suspicious package that arrived Tuesday at the Aynor Post Office.

An Horry County police dog alerted to the package that drugs were inside and a postal inspector obtained a federal search warrant, according to the report. Inside, officers found a bag of crystal substance that tested positive as methamphetamine.

About 4 p.m. Tuesday, Johnson came to the Post Office to pickup the package and officers confronted him, according to the report. Johnson told officers the package was his and he knew it contained drugs.

This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 12:20 PM with the headline "More details released in Aynor High teacher’s drug arrest."