A substitute teacher, known for prior drunk driving incidents, was reported drunk at a Wisconsin elementary school. Authorities said she was seen failing to exit her vehicle and later wandering the campus visibly intoxicated.
Christopher Rias, 30, was arrested last Thursday for his third DUI after being observed driving under the influence on his way to Bay Lane Elementary School in Muskego. At the time, he was already banned from consuming alcohol due to previous bail conditions.
Upon entering the school, Rias exhibited difficulty walking, swaying with each movement while interacting with students. Tests later revealed his blood-alcohol level remained significantly above the legal limit, even hours after arriving.
Police body camera footage retrieved shows him being handcuffed in the school parking lot after officials alerted authorities due to his behavior.
When confronted by an officer, Rias replied, “What did I do?” to which the officer replied straightforwardly, “You came to work drunk.”
According to the criminal complaint, Rias displayed slurred speech, red eyes, and a strong odor of alcohol. A preliminary breath test indicated a level of .36, which far exceeds the legal driving limit of .08.
Rias was already wanted for a third drunk driving charge and was out on bail with restrictions prohibiting alcohol use. He was subsequently arrested for his fourth DUI and is being held in Muskego County Jail.
The principal of Beilein Elementary School assured everyone that students were never in danger and noted that Rias was hired through a third-party contractor, Kelly Education.
“We recognize the seriousness of this situation and are taking decisive steps to ensure a safe and professional learning environment for all students,” Robin Schrott stated.
She added that they are maintaining communication with Kelly Education to investigate the incident thoroughly, ensure necessary policies are enforced, and clarify the review and oversight process.
