A 57-year-old substitute teacher at Buddy West Elementary School, accused of drinking alcohol in her vehicle during a break from teaching, was arrested on a charge of public intoxication at 11:15 a.m. Friday.

Lynette Smith, 57, 11080 W. 23rd St., was being held Friday at the Ector County Detention Center on a $297 bond.

She has been a substitute with the district since October 2015, Ector County Independent School District Communications Specialist Derrick Conway said.

A news release stated that a student at Buddy West reported that the substitute appeared intoxicated. The principal immediately removed the substitute teacher from the classroom, the release reported.

The principal believed the substitute teacher was intoxicated and requested that Ector County ISD police assist with the situation, according to the release.

District police confirmed the teacher had consumed an alcoholic beverage and was intoxicated, the release said.

The investigation revealed Smith had alcohol in her vehicle and went to her vehicle during a break to consume it, the release showed.

As a result of Smith’s arrest, her working relationship with ECISD has been terminated, Conway said.

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A Buddy West Elementary substitute teacher was arrested Friday morning, ECISD communications employee Derrick Conway said.

Conway declined to release more information and said a news release would be sent out later in the day.

Check back for more information as this story develops.