In a troubling incident from Minnesota, a daycare teacher has been accused of inflicting harm on a child by allegedly slamming the child’s head against a wall while under the influence of alcohol. The incident reportedly took place at Milestones Early Learning Center in Plymouth, a suburb located approximately 20 minutes from Minneapolis.
The teacher in question, 21-year-old Aniya Keosongseng, is facing charges of gross misdemeanors for child endangerment and obstructing a police officer. As of now, she has not yet entered a plea in response to these allegations.
The situation came to light on February 23 when a concerned daycare aide contacted the authorities. The aide expressed concerns that Keosongseng might be experiencing a ‘panic attack,’ according to a complaint referenced by Law & Crime.
Upon their arrival, police officers observed that Keosongseng was exhibiting signs of intoxication, such as slurred speech and an unsteady gait, as outlined in the police report. Her blood alcohol concentration was recorded at .356, which is over four times the legal limit for driving, as reported by Fox9.
When they arrived, officials found that the employee was ‘slurring her words’ and ‘stumbling,’ said the report.
She had a blood alcohol level of .356, more than four times the legal limit, reported Fox9.
In surveillance footage reviewed by police, the teacher was seen picking up a child, then stumbling backwards, allegedly ‘slamming’ the child’s head into a wall.
As she tried to console the student, Keosongseng then ‘lost balance and fell on top of the child’, per the report.
Aniya Keosongseng, 21, was charged after allegedly working while intoxicated at Milestones Early Learning Center and ‘slamming’ a child’s head into a wall while stumbling
Milestones Early Learning Center fired Keosongseng immediately after the incident
Police also noticed Keosongseng ‘nodding off’ while buttoning a child’s outfit.
Fellow employees said that the former daycare aide ‘deteriorated’ throughout the day, per the filing.
When police tried to arrest her, the complaint stated that Keosongseng avoided them by ‘pulling away and dropping herself to the floor.’
The report also alleged that Keosongseng bit an officer on the leg. She admitted to going home during her lunch hour to drink alcohol and she was taken to the hospital.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, dangerously high blood alcohol levels can be associated with alcohol poisoning, which can be life-threatening.
Representatives for Milestones Early Learning Center told KSTP that Keosongseng was fired immediately after her horrifying drunken display.
‘While we are proud of how our team handled the situation, we were deeply disappointed to learn the cause,’ read their statement.
Keosongseng was charged with gross misdemeanors of endangering a child and interfering with a police officer for the incident. The child pictured was not involved
‘The staff member was immediately terminated as there is a zero tolerance for alcohol or drug use.’
Milestones Early Learning Center disputed reports that Keosongseng ‘slammed’ a child’s head or harmed a student in any way.
Representatives added that they ‘did not observe any instance in which a child was injured or placed at risk due to the staff member’s actions.’
‘We will be following up with the police department to understand why their report suggests otherwise,’ it continued.
‘Detectives spoke with both our Directors and families after completing their review.
‘At that time, they communicated that no child was injured as a result of the staff member’s behavior, which is consistent with what we observed in the video.’
Police alleged that Keosongseng picked up a child while intoxicated and ‘slammed’ its head into a wall
Milestones Early Learning Center’s assistant director told police that Keosongseng worked with children ages 12 months to 16 months.
She was responsible for feeding them, changing their diapers and putting them down for naps.
Employees said there had never been any prior issues with Keosongseng and she underwent a robust background check before being hired.
According to their website, the day care provides a ‘safe, fun and nurturing environment for children of all ages.’
She was released after being booked at Hennepin County Jail. Keosongseng’s first court appearance is scheduled for April 16.
The Daily Mail contacted Milestones Early Learning Center, the Plymouth Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and Keosongseng for more information.
