Kindergarten Teacher Was Drinking, Toting Pistol At School: Authorities

DALLAS, GA — A Paulding County kindergarten teacher who was reportedly drinking on the job Thursday was later found to be in possession of a semi-automatic handgun, officials said.

Melanie Bullard, 39, teaches at Shelton Elementary School, in Dallas. She was charged with reckless conduct and possession of a weapon on school property.

Paulding County Sheriff's deputies say that at about noon Thursday, administrators at the school were alerted by a staff member that a teacher appeared to have alcohol on her breath.

Officials contacted a school resource officer, who began investigating.

When the officers used a portable alcohol sensor on Bullard, she tested positive for alcohol, the sheriff's office said.

A second evaluation was conducted, they say, confirming the result.

At that point, staffers began a search of Bullard's classroom and nearby areas to attempt to find open containers of alcohol. During the search, the sheriff's office said, they found a loaded, semi-automatic pistol in her purse.

The purse was on the floor of her classroom, underneath Bullard's desk.

Bullard was booked into the Paulding County Detention Center and, as of Friday morning, was being held without bond.

Photo courtesy Paulding County Sheriff's Office