Plymouth day care worker accused of drinking on break, injuring child in fall
PLYMOUTH, MN – A 21-year-old day care aide is facing criminal charges after police say she returned to work intoxicated and fell on top of a child inside a Plymouth early learning center, prompting a hospital trip and immediate termination.
Aniya Keosongseng was charged with endangering a child and interfering with a peace officer following a Feb. 23 incident at Milestones Early Learning Center. Officers were called after a coworker reported that a staff member appeared to be suffering from a “panic attack,” according to a criminal complaint.
When officers arrived, they found Keosongseng showing signs of intoxication, including the odor of alcohol, while coworkers reported she was “slurring her words” and “stumbling,” the complaint states. Surveillance video later reviewed by investigators documented what they described as a worsening condition throughout the afternoon.
Surveillance video details incident inside classroom
According to the complaint, video footage shows Keosongseng “nodding off” while attempting to button a child’s clothing before lifting the child and falling backward into a wall, allegedly causing the child’s head to strike the surface. Police said she then attempted to comfort the child but, while trying to “scoot” closer from the floor, she “lost balance and fell on top of the child.”
The center later stated that “no child was injured as a result of the staff member’s behavior,” after staff moved children out of the room and notified families.
Police said a preliminary breath test showed Keosongseng had a blood alcohol content of 0.356. According to the complaint, she admitted she went home during her lunch break, consumed alcohol, and returned to work.
Arrest leads to additional charge
Officers attempted to take Keosongseng into custody at the scene, but she allegedly resisted by “pulling away and dropping herself to the floor.” While on the ground, she allegedly bit an officer on the leg, leading to the additional charge of interfering with a peace officer.
Due to what police described as her extreme level of intoxication, Keosongseng was transported to a hospital rather than directly to jail.
Milestones Early Learning Center confirmed in a statement that Keosongseng was terminated immediately and that staff initially believed she was experiencing a “potential medical concern” before determining that “alcohol was involved.”
Keosongseng was later booked into the Hennepin County Jail and released. She is scheduled to appear in court on April 16.
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