A Houston teacher has been charged with putting his COVID-19-positive son in the trunk of his car

Photo credit Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images

A Houston school teacher has been charged with child endangerment after reportedly transporting her COVID-19-positive son to a testing center in the trunk of her car to avoid contracting the virus from him.

Sarah Beam, a Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School System (Cy-Fair ISD) professor, stalled at the Pridgeon Stadium drive-thru COVID-testing center in northwest Harris County on Monday and notified the school district's director of health services, Bevin Gordon, that her child was in the trunk of the car, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Beam unlatched the trunk when Gordon wanted to see the youngster, and the 13-year-old was located inside. Gordon warned Beam that the test would not be completed unless the child was returned to the vehicle. The toddler can be seen leaving the trunk and sitting in the car on surveillance tape.

Gordon reported the incident to the authorities. Beam reported to police enforcement that she put her son in the trunk to keep him from spreading the virus. For the offense of child endangerment, police issued an arrest warrant for the 41-year-old teacher.

The high school teacher was arrested at 3 p.m. on Saturday and discharged about 4:45 p.m. on the same day after posting a $1,500 bond. Since 2011, Beam has been employed by the school district. She has been placed on administrative leave for the time being.

10 Jan 2022