LEESBURG, Fla. – Samba, a K9 trained to sniff out vapes in Lake County’s school district, led law enforcement to a stolen gun at Leesburg High School on Thursday, according to police.
The loaded 9mm Glock — reported stolen out of Lake County — was found in the backpack of a 9th-grade student who was thus arrested, the Leesburg Police Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office said in statements on the matter.
Samba and her handler, Erica Stamborski, came across the backpack during a routine and scheduled visit to the high school’s media room, according to the sheriff’s office’s post. Along with the gun, Samba found three vapes and a cigar in other backpacks, the post states.
We are incredibly proud of K9 Samba’s and Handler Stamborski’s efforts and their unwavering dedication to ensuring a safe learning environment for children in Lake County.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office statement 1/16/2025 (excerpt)
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Following the student’s arrest by Leesburg police, an extra officer was placed at the campus for the rest of the day as the department’s investigation was said to last into the afternoon.
Just a week prior, Samba and Stamborski had been awarded the Back the Blue Award by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody for the K9′s “outstanding performance in detecting vapes and THC” in Lake County schools, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Lake County School District purchased Samba in 2023. She’s been working at district middle and high schools since March 2024.
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