RICHARDSON, Texas _ Police in Texas say a substitute teacher was arrested after allegedly showing up drunk for a class at a middle school in suburban Dallas.

Authorities say the man was so intoxicated, he couldn't complete a sobriety test.

A school spokesman says 56-year-old Thomas Brownlee was in a classroom Tuesday with students and another staff member for about 20 minutes.

Another teacher suspected Brownlee was drunk and told a police officer at Parkhill Junior High.

A Dallas police report states that Brownlee ``had slurred speech, breath smelling of an alcoholic beverage and bloodshot eyes.''

The officer stopped issuing a sobriety test out of concern for Brownlee's safety, according to the report.

Brownlee was charged with public intoxication.

The school spokesman said students were never alone with Brownlee, and that the district had used him as a substitute teacher before without problems.© 2008 The Canadian Press