Kentucky Teacher Arrested for Drugs, Child Endangerment

(Lexington, Kentucky) A 38-year-old English teacher at Henry Clay High School, Erica Shannon Cooper, was arrested yesterday near a "known crack house" for alleged drug, alcohol and child endangerment offenses.

Cooper has been charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication.

According to reports filed in district court, police noticed a black 2001 Nissan Maxima early Friday morning at Fourth and Chestnut streets in a "high drug-sales area." The car sped away when a police cruiser approached.

Police said officers spotted the Nissan a few minutes later near the reported crack house on North Upper. [...]

In a citation filed with the court, officers described Cooper as "manifestly under the influence," with slurred speech, a strong smell of alcohol and acting "very belligerent and combative." [...]

While being booked into the Fayette County jail, Cooper told jail officials she had left her 2-year-old daughter home alone, according to police reports. Officers went to Cooper's apartment on North Limestone, where they found the child. While they were inside the home, the officers noticed "in plain sight a can containing marijuana and a marijuana pipe laying on the kitchen counter," according to the court filing.

Fayette County Schools placed Cooper on suspension. Arraignment is scheduled for Monday.