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School Superintendent Crowd-Surfed, Then Got a DWI

James Thomson was spotted flying high at NY high school football game before his arrest
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 12, 2022 9:25 AM CDT

When you're the superintendent of a school district, it's perfectly fine to attend school events and show enthusiasm—but maybe not that much enthusiasm. Jason D. Thomson may be reflecting upon that after a weekend that kicked off with his attendance at Baker High School's football game in Baldwinsville, NY, and ended with his arrest on DWI charges, with some crowd-surfing in the student section of the stadium stands in between. NBC News notes that the 48-year-old's antics at the game—video of which soon circulated on social media and in news reports—caught local cops' attention, the Baldwinsville Police Department said in a statement.

Then, "several students reported to the district staff that they suspected that Mr. Thomson was under the influence of alcohol," the statement notes. Those staffers told police officers attending the game. Then, a little after 8pm that night, after Thomson had left the game, a cop says Thomson made a turn without signaling, as well as was driving a vehicle without a front license plate. The officer himself had reason to suspect Thomson had been drinking and conducted a field sobriety test. The cop also tested his blood alcohol content and found it to be 0.15—almost double New York's legal limit, per the Washington Post.

Thomson, who has served in a superintendent role for various school districts in New York state, was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated, as well as for the turn signal and license plate violations. In a statement, the district's school board said that it would "take appropriate action if warranted," and noted that "it is the expectation our district staff serves as role models for our students at all events," per WSTM. Thomson, who was released on his own recognizance, could face up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. He's next set to be in court Oct. 26. (More DWI stories.)

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