Police: Westport school staffer possibly drunk, fell asleep teaching student

Police said they were called to Greens Farms Elementary School around 1:30 p.m. Nov. 23 for a report of a possibly impaired staff member.

WESTPORT — A school speech and language pathologist has been arrested after police say she fell asleep and was possibly intoxicated while instructing a student.

Police said they were called to Greens Farms Elementary School around 1:30 p.m. Nov. 23 for a report of a possibly impaired staff member.

Detectives learned that Michelle Babin, a 32-yearold speech and language pathologist from Shelton, fell asleep while instructing a student, police said.

It took staff at least 30 seconds to wake up Babin, police said. After being woken up, Babin “mumbled incoherently” and her breath smelled of alcohol, according to police.

Babin was taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation, police said.

Detectives determined the student was not being “appropriately supervised” while in Babin’s care because “she was reportedly both asleep as well as possibly intoxicated when she was supposed to be instructing him,” police said.

“This put the child at great risk of being injured,” police added.

Westport Public Schools Superintendent Tom Scarice said the incident is a personnel matter and declined to comment when reached on Wednesday.

Police obtained an arrest warrant for Babin. The speech pathologist later turned herself in at the Westport Police Department on Dec. 30.

Babin was charged with risk of injury to a child and was released after posting a $75,000 bond. She is scheduled to next appear in court for an arraignment February 16 in Stamford.