Deputies said an assistant football coach at Haines City High School was among the three men arrested Wednesday on various drug charges.

Chad Alexander, 24, was arrested, along with Michael Gray, 24, and Paul Burr, 22, following a traffic stop in Lake Wales. Detectives said Alexander told them he is an assistant football coach and substitute teacher at the high school.

According to the arrest affidavit, detectives saw the three men in a silver Kia parked at a Citgo gas station. They said they saw Gray inhale from what appeared to be a marijuana "blunt," then pass it to Burr, who was the driver of the car.

The car then drove off, which is when detectives stopped the Kia. 

Officials said that detectives searched the care and found the following:

  • A plastic bag containing 43 Xanax pills
  • Three plastic bags that field-tested positive for methamphetamine (over 14 grams)
  • A plastic bag containing approximately a quarter-pound of marijuana
  • Several plastic bags with marijuana residue
  • A scale with marijuana and methamphetamine residue.

Deputies said the silver Kia had been rented to Alexander, and that Alexander confirmed the car was rented in his name.

The three suspects were then arrested and taken to Polk County Jail.

Alexander is facing charges of trafficking in meth, maintaining a vehicle for drug trafficking, possession of alprazolam (Xanax) with intent to sell, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.

Gray is facing charges of possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.

Burr is facing charges of trafficking in meth, possession of alprazolam (Xanax) with intent to sell, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. He is facing an additional charge of tampering with evidence after detectives said he swallowed the marijuana blunt during the traffic stop.

"I'm very proud of our detectives for putting Chad Alexander - someone who could have been teaching at the high school today or coaching during this upcoming football season - behind bars," Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. "His behavior is not that of someone who should be teaching, coaching, or influencing kids."