The leader of a Massachusetts school district accused of drunken driving and speeding down a local highway at 100 mph is off the job pending the outcome of an investigation.
The Uxbridge School Committee announced during a meeting on Tuesday night that Uxbridge Public Schools Superintendent Michael Baldassarre has been placed on paid leave, effective immediately.
“The safety and well-being of our students are of our top priorities,” a committee member said during the meeting. “After careful consideration, Superintendent Baldassarre has been placed on paid administrative leave.”
A Massachusetts State Police trooper patrolling the northbound side of Interstate 495 in Bolton around 2:40 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, spotted a gray Toyota Camry operating 35 mph over the posted 65 mph speed limit, according to a criminal complaint. A traffic stop was conducted on the highway after the trooper said the vehicle nearly struck another car.
“I observed his eyes were red, glassy, and bloodshot. His speech was slurred and had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath as he was speaking,” the trooper wrote in the complaint, identifying the driver as Baldassarre. “Baldassarre said he had wine.”
After a series of field sobriety tests, Baldassarre refused a breath test and was arrested on charges of operating under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, marked lane violation, and speeding, according to the complaint.
“I observed a strong odor of alcoholic beverage was present in the cruiser during transportation to state police Leominster Barracks,” the trooper added in the complaint.
The trooper said that Baldassarre was later found with a receipt from Victory Cigar Bar in Worcester dated a few hours before his arrest.
The receipt listed, “1 Open cigar, 1 Taylor 10 years Tawny, 1 Taylor 10 years Tawny, 1 open liquor, 1 Stella Artois, and 1 Stella Artois,” according to the complaint.
Baldassarre’s license has since been suspended.
He is due back in court in March.
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