ANKENY, Iowa — A special education associate with the Ankeny Community School District was arrested on Wednesday after police say she was drunk at school.

According to a criminal complaint, on Wednesday school staff at Ankeny Centennial High School noticed one of their coworkers, 50-year-old Sara Halbur, was acting strangely. The complaint states she was being loud and that her breath smelled like alcohol.

During a search of Halbur’s classroom, school administrators found an empty Diet Pepsi bottle that smelled like alcohol, the complaint states.

The Ankeny Police Department was contacted and when they arrived they noted that Halbur displayed signs of impairment, like slurred speach, bloodshot/watery eyes, and an odor of alcohol coming from her person, court documents state.

Halbur performed a preliminary breath test which showed a blood alcohol content of .262%, the criminal complaint states. That is more than three times the legal limit to drive in Iowa.

When officers searched Halbur’s purse they found three open bottes of Seagram’s 7 Crown Blended Whiskey, the complaint states.

Halbur has been charged with public intoxication.

On Thursday the school district released the following statement about Halbur’s arrest:

The Ankeny Community School District thoroughly investigates any report that raises a concern about the conduct of our staff members.

In any misconduct allegation, we are shocked and disappointed when the highest standards of education are not met, and the good work of educating students is undermined.

The conduct alleged in this case is not tolerated in Ankeny Schools. The district thoroughly investigates any report that raises a concern about a staff member’s conduct.

In this case, the staff member was immediately placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and state agency investigations.

Ankeny Community School District

Latest Metro News: