OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. -- An Osceola County high school has launched a prescription drug investigation into its athletic program. Thomas Rome was arrested and accused of illegally giving Vicodin to football players at Gateway High School.

Investigators say the incident happened with at least three players.

The Osceola County School District says Thomas Rome was responsible for helping student athletes at the school as a booster parent.

However, instead investigators say behind the gate the parent was hurting players by giving them bottles of pain pills after their games and he even made house calls.

Off the football field at Gateway High School in Kissimmee, Osceola County sheriff's investigators say 36-year-old Thomas Rome was dealing Vicodin to players on the football team.

"Oh yeah I was upset because he could die, he doesn't know what he was taking," one legal guardian said.

The legal guardian of a 16-year-old Gateway High football player says Rome also gave him several prescription pain pills.

Investigators say the man who's also a parent athletic booster was giving the kids the drugs because they were complaining of body pains.

"This is a parent who should be responsible. It's absolutely inexcusable that he would give these students these pills," Twis Lizasuain of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies have identified at least three football players who were able to get their hands on prescription drugs.

The Osceola County School District is looking for more. It has launched an investigation into the athletic program.

"Is there any reason to believe any other football players or students were involved?" WFTV reporter Kenneth Moton asked.

"There might be and if that's the case we would certainly encourage parents and students to come forward," Lizasuain replied.

Deputies arrested the man at Gateway High School where they found a bottle of Vicodin inside his truck and a 9-millimeter handgun.

"You want to trust these people, but you see you can't trust nobody," the legal guardian said.

Rome said he got the pills from his mother.

Rome is in the Osceola County jail on a $215,000 bond.