COLTON, Calif. – A California middle school teacher faces drug charges after a colleague allegedly witnessed him smoking heroin near the school.

Seventh grade teacher Kyle Patrick Mackenzie, 29, allegedly admitted to smoking heroin Tuesday morning near Jehue Middle School where he taught after a campus security officer noticed him lighting up and told school officials, the Press Enterprise and KTLA report.

“The witness pretty much described that the person was smoking something out of aluminum foil,” police Cpl. Ray Mendez said. “Mackenzie was found to be in possession of heroin and admitted to smoking it.”

MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK

According to the news site, “heroin, methamphetamine and certain other narcotics often are smoked by placing the drug on aluminum foil that the smoker holds in one hand while using the other hand to heat the foil with a lighter, Mendez said.”

Mackenzie was arrested at school for suspicion of drug possession around 10 a.m., after which school officials placed him on paid administrative leave, according to Syeda Jafri, spokeswoman for the Rialto Unified School District.

“We cannot put him on unpaid administrative leave until charges are filed,” she said.

KTLA reports Mackenzie was booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga with a $25,000 bail and is set to face a felony charge in court Thursday.

Parent Robin Johanna Lynn Legaspi was shocked by the arrest of her son’s teacher.

“This being a teacher of my son, it’s very disappointing to know that the people we are supposed to trust with our children are making such poor and disgusting decisions,” she posted on Facebook. “My son really enjoyed his class, so I hope that he gets the help that he needs, but is never in the same classroom as my son again.”

MORE NEWS: How to prepare for face-to-face classes

Tanisha Parks viewed the incident as an example of why teachers should be drug tested.

“… If a student was caught, that student would automatically be expelled … so he should be fired. Stop making excuses for people that are clearly in the wrong. He admitted it,” Parks posted. “Bottom line – drug testing and background checks are very important, even more so when you are working around children … no exceptions!”