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An elementary school teacher at Viera Charter School was arrested in Volusia County this week after deputies say a K-9 alerted on her vehicle and they located about 2.7 grams of a white powder that field-tested presumptively positive for cocaine, according to the arrest report.
Deputies say the encounter started around 7:11 p.m. on March 3, 2026, during a property check at the New Smyrna Regional Shopping Center (1900 SR 44), when an occupied vehicle was found parked away from others and the tag came back as expired and not assigned to the vehicle. The report notes an open alcoholic beverage “Mom Juice” in the center console, and says the driver, Jill Filipowicz, appeared increasingly nervous.
According to the report, she later told deputies she had “something” to tell them about what was in the vehicle and claimed she took cocaine from her ex-boyfriend. Deputies also wrote that after being read her rights, she admitted she had been using cocaine for several months and attempted to conceal it as the deputy approached.
She was arrested for possession of cocaine and transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail, according to the report.
We contacted Viera Charter School for comment, but have not received a response as of publication.
As always, these are allegations contained in a law-enforcement report and the case will play out in court.
