Deer High School basketball coach John Jacob Thompson was in the Johnson County jail Friday after his arrest in Clarksville by the 5th Judicial Drug Task Force.
Thompson, 33, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a felony, police said.
Johnson County Circuit Court Judge William Pearson on Thursday set a bond of $2,500.
Thompson was arrested on Country Club Road during an undercover drug-purchase operation, said Larry Johnson, task force coordinator.
“[Thompson] was very cordial,” Johnson said.
Johnson said Thompson’s arrest involved prescriptiondrugs, though he wouldn’t say what kind, citing the ongoing investigation. Johnson said it is unlikely that Thompson was operating in association with anyone else or that any students were involved.
Carl Cook, athletic director for the Deer-Mount Judea School District in Newton County, confirmed that Thompson worked for the district, but said little else.
Cook referred questions about Thompson’s employment to Superintendent Richard Denniston. Denniston did not return numerous messages left Friday at the school.
Thompson remains listed as the boys and girls basketball coach for Deer High School on the Arkansas Activities Association website. The association governs high school activities, includingathletics, in the state.
Clarksville School District Superintendent David Hopkins said Thompson served as coach for that district until his termination after the 2008-09 school year. Hopkins said he did not have details of Thompson’s termination.
Clarksville School District Athletic Director Gary Thompson was not available for comment Friday.
Johnson County Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons said the filing of formal charges against Thompson will wait until task force agents finish their work on the case, which could take a week.
Gibbons confirmed that Thompson had been arrested previously but said he could not provide any information because that record was sealed.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 11 on 10/08/2011