LINCOLNTON, N.C. -- An elementary school teacher was arrested by Lincoln County narcotics officers on Tuesday during an undercover operation.

Sheriff’s deputies said they set up an operation to buy drugs from Brian Hunter Zickefoose, 26, of Maiden and then arrest him. Zickefoose had interviewed for a job with Lincoln County Schools teaching at S. Ray Lowder Elementary School in Lincolnton, but LCS officials said they will not be hiring him because of the arrest.

Deputies said the teacher was caught after a brief foot chase with officers. He’s charged with five counts of possession with the intent to sell and deliver cocaine, five counts of sale and delivery of cocaine and maintaining a motor vehicle for the sale of a controlled substance.

Authorities said they seized 3 grams of cocaine during the undercover operation. They said the charges stem from separate undercover incidents over the last two months.

Sheriff Tim Daugherty says he’s glad Zickefoose was arrested, but the case is an upsetting one for him.

“I’ve known him and his family, and they’re good people. I don’t really know what happened. He went to school with my daughter. You just wonder how he got involved in something like that. It’s unfortunate, but fortunate for us that we did catch him,” he said.

Daugherty said he doesn’t believe Zickefoose was selling to minors.

Zickefoose is being held under a $60,000 secured bond in the Lincoln County jail. He made his first appearance in court on Wednesday.

Zickefoose previously taught physical education at Winget Park Elementary School in Charlotte. A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools spokeswoman said Zickefoose was hired in late January. Wednesday was the last day of his contract with CMS.