Alcohol arrest expected to be discussed

Tag : alcohol

The case of the assistant principal at Methuen High School -arrested for drunken driving and sentenced over the summer vacation- will most likely be discussed at the first Methuen SchoolCommittee meeting tomorrow, members said.
Donald S. Gibson, 47, was arrested in Amesbury and charged with asecond offense of operating a motor vehicle while under theinfluence of alcohol, according to documents filed in NewburyportDistrict Court. He was sentenced on July 14 to probation and hadhis license suspended for three months, but was back for the firstday of school last week.
The Methuen School Committee will meet tomorrow for its firstsession of the school year, and members expect the issue ofGibson's drunken driving arrest to be raised, said commitee vicechairman Gary Marcoux.
"I assume it will be on the agenda because the School Committeemembers have been getting calls from the press," Marcoux said lastweek. "I don't want to say anything yet because I want to affordthe School Committee and the superintendent time to discuss it."
The police report of the incident states that on April 25, twoofficers saw Gibson's blue Ford Explorer drifting over the lines in traffic on Interstate 495southbound, remaining in between lanes for more than 200 yards.
Officers Raymond Landry and Kevin Mulrenin wrote that after theystopped the SUV they smelled a "strong odor of an alcoholicbeverage coming from inside the vehicle" and saw that Gibson's eyeswere "bloodshot and glassy" and his speech was "slow and slurred."
The officers said Gibson, who according to police faced a similarcharge in 1981, stated he'd been at the Winner's Circle on ElmStreet in Salisbury for four hours and had five 12-ounce bottles ofBud Light. He told the officers he was driving to his home inDracut when he was pulled over.
The report states that Gibson failed a series of field sobrietytests, including recitation of the alphabet, and refused aBreathalyzer test. He was handcuffed and placed in the back of thepolice cruiser at 12:30 a.m., and taken to the Amesbury PoliceDepartment and booked. At that time, the report states, Gibsoncalled his attorney, who told police Gibson was assistant principalat Methuen High.
Gibson was also an assistant coach for Methuen's football and boy'strack teams but has not been involved in high school sports for thepast five years, according to Methuen Athletics Director JamesWeymouth.
Tina Mann, president of Methuen's Parent Teacher Organization, saidthe association had no official comment on the incident.
"I'm going to leave this to the superintendent," said Mann, whoseson is a senior at Methuen High. "I'll let the administrationhandle everything that needs to be handled."
Superintendent Jeanne Whitten did not respond to calls seekingcomment.
Gibson admitted to sufficient facts during the July hearing,conceding that in a trial there would be enough evidence to convicthim. His license to drive was suspended for three months beginningJuly 14. The judge also sentenced him to two years of probation andto complete a driver alcohol education program.
Gibson, who was cited but found not responsible for a marked-lanesviolation, must also pay a $65 monthly probation fee for one yearon top of $600 in fines, according to the court documents. He couldnot be reached for comment.
Stephanie Jaskot, an honors senior at the high school, said shedidn't think Gibson's arrest outside school should affect his job.The beginning of a new school year will inevitably bring talk aboutthe incident, she said, adding that she did not expect Gibsonhimself to talk about it.
"Schools have DARE programs to teach awareness to students," Jaskotsaid. "If I was in his shoes, I know that I wouldn't want people toexpect me to do a lecture. He didn't harm anyone, except hisreputation."
The Amesbury police report states that Gibson was arrested foroperating under the influence of liquor in January 1981 and wasarraigned in Lowell District Court. According to the Registry, hewas ordered to complete an alcohol education program.