BALDWINSVILLE, N.Y. — The superintendent of a central New York school district was arrested on charges of driving under the influence shortly after leaving a homecoming game where videos showed him crowd-surfing.
Jason Thomson was arrested on Friday night after an officer saw him driving a vehicle without a front license plate and making a turn without using a signal, police told WSYR. When police stopped him, they said Thomson failed a sobriety test and was charged with DWI with a blood alcohol level greater than 0.08%.
Baldwinsville police Chief Michael Lefancheck said Thomson had a blood alcohol level of 0.15%, The Post-Standard reported.
A video posted to social media and obtained by WSYR and The Washington Post appears to show Thomson in the student section at Charles W. Baker High School at Friday’s game, crowd-surfing over a cheering crowd.
After the administrator’s fun in the stands, several students told staff at the game that they believed Thomson might be under the influence, The Washington Post reported. Those staffers then alerted Baldwinsville police officers who were at the game. In a statement to the newspaper, Lefancheck said alcohol is not sold at district athletic events.
In a statement sent to parents and shared with WSYR, the president of Baldwinsville’s Board of Education, Jennifer Patruno, said, “We appreciate the prompt response by school staff in responding to this matter. Since this is a personnel matter the district is unable to comment further. 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.”
Thomson was hired by the Baldwinsville Central School District in August 2021 on a contract that ends in August 2024, The Washington Post reported.
The Baldwinsville Board of Education has called a special meeting for Oct. 10 to discuss “a matter made confidential by attorney-client privilege” and will also address “matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person,” The Post-Standard reported.
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