Minnesota Daycare Teacher Faces Charges After Alleged Drunken Incident Involving Child
A 21-year-old daycare teacher in Minnesota has been charged with serious offences after allegedly working while severely intoxicated, with police claiming she slammed a young child's head into a wall during the incident. Aniya Keosongseng, who worked at Milestones Early Learning Center in Plymouth, approximately 20 minutes west of Minneapolis, is accused of gross misdemeanors including endangering a child and interfering with a police officer.
Intoxicated Behaviour During Working Hours
According to court documents obtained by Law & Crime, the incident unfolded on February 23 when a fellow daycare aide contacted police expressing concerns that Keosongseng was experiencing what appeared to be a panic attack. Upon arrival, officers immediately noted that the employee was visibly impaired, with reports describing her as slurring her words and stumbling unsteadily.
Subsequent testing revealed Keosongseng had a blood alcohol concentration of .356, which is more than four times the legal limit for driving in Minnesota. Medical experts note that such dangerously high blood alcohol levels are typically associated with alcohol poisoning, which can present life-threatening risks to individuals.
Surveillance Footage Reveals Disturbing Actions
Police reviewed surveillance footage from the daycare facility which allegedly showed Keosongseng picking up a young child before stumbling backwards and forcefully striking the child's head against a wall. The complaint further states that as she attempted to console the distressed child, Keosongseng lost her balance completely and fell directly on top of the young student.
Additional observations from responding officers noted that Keosongseng appeared to be nodding off while attempting to button a child's clothing. Fellow employees reported to investigators that her condition visibly deteriorated throughout the workday, with her behaviour becoming increasingly concerning as time progressed.
Resistance During Arrest and Immediate Termination
When police attempted to place Keosongseng under arrest, the complaint alleges she actively resisted by pulling away from officers and dropping herself to the floor. The report further claims that during this struggle, Keosongseng bit an officer on the leg. She subsequently admitted to investigators that she had returned home during her lunch break specifically to consume alcohol before returning to work with young children.
Milestones Early Learning Center responded swiftly to the incident, terminating Keosongseng's employment immediately upon learning of the allegations. In a statement provided to local media, representatives emphasized their zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol or drug use by staff members while expressing deep disappointment about the circumstances.
Daycare Center Disputes Police Account
Despite the detailed police report, Milestones Early Learning Center has publicly disputed the characterization of events, specifically challenging reports that Keosongseng slammed a child's head or caused any harm to students. Representatives stated they observed no instance in which a child was injured or placed at risk due to the staff member's actions.
The center's management indicated they plan to follow up with police to understand discrepancies between their observations and the official report, noting that detectives had communicated to both directors and families that no child was injured as a result of the staff member's behaviour, which they claim is consistent with their own review of surveillance footage.
Background and Legal Proceedings
Keosongseng had been responsible for caring for children between 12 and 16 months old at the facility, with duties including feeding, diaper changes, and putting children down for naps. Colleagues reported no prior issues with her performance, and the center confirmed she had undergone a comprehensive background check before being hired.
Following her arrest, Keosongseng was booked at Hennepin County Jail before being released. Her first court appearance is scheduled for April 16, where she will have the opportunity to enter a formal plea to the charges against her. The case continues to develop as authorities and the daycare center provide conflicting accounts of what exactly transpired during the disturbing incident.
