School principal on leave following drug, gun arrest

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The principal of Lee Elementary School in Paradise
Hills was placed on leave following her weekend arrest on suspicion of
possessing illegal drugs and a stolen gun, authorities reported.

Rachel Yolanda Escobedo, 45, was arrested in the Rolando Park area on
Saturday, according to San Diego police.

Shortly before 8:30 that evening, an officer responding to a report of a
suspicious vehicle in the 6800 block of Missy Court found Escobedo sitting in
her parked 1993 Honda Accord with a 60-year-old man, SDPD public-affairs Lt.
Kevin Mayer said.

The patrolman spotted an open vodka bottle inside the vehicle and a
small amount of what turned out to be marijuana in an ashtray, the lieutenant
said.

After getting permission to search the car from Escobedo, who was in the
driver's seat, the officer allegedly found a loaded .22-caliber pistol in the
trunk, along with about two dozen prescription pills that appeared to be
hydrocodone and four small baggies containing a white crystalline powder, Mayer
said.

The apparent drugs were submitted for lab testing to positively identify
them, he said, adding that a computer check showed that the handgun had been
reported stolen.

Escobedo, a La Mesa resident, was taken into custody without incident on
suspicion of illegally possessing a loaded firearm and controlled substances.
Her companion, whose relationship to her was unclear, was released.

The educator posted $25,000 bail the next day and was given a Sept. 17
arraignment date.

She worked her usual shift on Monday, as her supervisors had yet to
learn of her arrest, said Jack Brandais, spokesman for San Diego Unified School
District. She was suspended Tuesday pending the outcome of the criminal case.

Escobedo has worked for the district since 1996 as a primary school
teacher and administrator. She has held her current post since May.

Retired SDUSD principal Judy Fogel agreed to fill in for Escobedo on a
temporary basis, Brandais said.