In a shocking incident, Erin Ward, a 45-year-old substitute teacher at OPS Burke High School, has been arrested by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in Nebraska. The arrest came after Ward was allegedly found undressed in a car with a 17-year-old male student.

According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, a call was received around 2:49 p.m. on April 13 regarding a suspicious vehicle on a dead end street near the 10200th block of North 189th St. Deputies promptly responded to the call and discovered a Gray 2015 Honda Pilot with two individuals in the backseat.

Upon seeing the deputies, one of the occupants hastily moved to the driver's seat and drove away, ultimately crashing into a nearby yard two blocks away. The driver, identified as a teenage male, emerged from the car completely unclothed and fled on foot, according to the sheriff's office statement.

Meanwhile, deputies approached the other individual in the car, an adult female later identified as Erin Ward. The release stated that Ward was allegedly in the process of putting her clothes back on when the deputies arrived. She confirmed her association with OPS Burke High School and two other local schools, as represented by an Omaha Public School employee ID found within the vehicle.

Once questioned by authorities, Ward purportedly admitted to engaging in sexual intercourse with the teenage driver, who she claimed was a 17-year-old male student at Burke High School. Police further revealed that Ward and her spouse were the owners of the vehicle involved in the incident.

At approximately 4 p.m., deputies located the 17-year-old male, who was found in a nearby neighborhood wearing nothing but boxer shorts, a t-shirt, and socks. He was immediately taken to a safe location to receive care and undergo further investigation.

Both Ward and the juvenile were attended to for minor injuries sustained during the crash and subsequent foot pursuit. The sheriff's office confirmed Ward's employment with Omaha Public Schools.

Erin Ward now faces one count of felony sexual abuse by a school employee and has been taken into custody at the Douglas County Department of Corrections. The report did not mention if an attorney has been retained to represent her, leaving her representation status unclear. Anyone with additional information regarding the case is urged to contact the DCSO at 402-444-6000.

This disturbing situation serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries within the educational system. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, please reach out for support by texting "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, where certified crisis counselors are available to provide assistance.