A Denver elementary school teacher’s aide had a syringe hanging out of her arm and an empty clear bag containing traces of white powder nearby, according to police.
Cassandra Rein, 27, is being held at the city’s downtown jail on suspicion of possession of a Schedule I substance, a felony.
Rein was taken into custody at the Denver Center for International Studies at Ford Elementary School. She was found by four first-grade girls who thought she was sleeping before they alerted adults, police and school officials said.
When a teacher asked Rein what the white powder and syringe were, she “stated her roommate was diabetic and did not know why it was there,” according to a probable cause statement.
Police say in Rein’s purse they found “several bottles of various pills as well as more syringes and metal caps containing a burnt powder substance residue,” the affidavit says.
Authorities did not elaborate in the report on what the pills or residue were.
The school told parents in a letter that Rein has been placed on administrative leave.
Rein appeared in court Friday where a judge denied her bond.
Officials have not said more about her role at the school.
“Because this is a confidential personnel matter, (Denver Public Schools) is not able to provide any additional information, at this time,” Doug Schepman, a district spokesman, said.
Rein had not been previously arrested in Colorado, records from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation show.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul
