Perhaps unsurprisingly, a New York school district official who was captured on camera crowd-surfing with students at a high school football game was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and charged with a DWI shortly thereafter.
According to the Baldwinsville Police Department, Baldwinsville Central School District Superintendent Jason D. Thomson was arrested after attending the homecoming football game at Baker High School.
Videos and photos circulating online showed the 48-year-old school official letting go and crowd-surfing in the student section.
“Following the incident, several students reported to the district staff that they suspected that Mr. Thomson was under the influence of alcohol,” police said in a statement. “This information was relayed to members of the Baldwinsville Police Department that were at the event.”
An officer with the department stopped Thomson after he made a turn without signaling at 8:10 p.m. The officer also said Thomson’s vehicle was missing a front license plate.
Police later confirmed that Thomson was driving with a BAC of .15%, almost twice the legal limit.
Thomson, who was the superintendent of Delaware Academy for nine years before becoming the top official for Baldwinsville Central, was booked and later released. He is due in court on October 26.
“Please be assured the district takes this matter seriously and will take appropriate action if warranted. It is the expectation our district staff serve as role models for our students at all events,” Board of Education President Jennifer Patruno said.
On the Monday following the incident, the school board held a special meeting regarding the superintendent’s arrest. After a nearly four-hour executive session, he was placed on paid administrative leave.