Race Day Live (Boston, MA) – A Massachusetts school district leader has been suspended as an investigation unfolds regarding allegations of drunken driving and excessive speeding on a local highway, where speeds reached 100 mph.
During a meeting on Tuesday night, the Uxbridge School Committee revealed that Michael Baldassarre, the Superintendent of Uxbridge Public Schools, has been put 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 trooper from the Massachusetts State Police was on patrol on the northbound side of Interstate 495 in Bolton at approximately 2:40 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, when they observed a gray Toyota Camry traveling at 100 mph, significantly exceeding the posted speed limit of 65 mph, as detailed in a criminal complaint. A highway traffic stop took place after the officer reported that the vehicle came close to colliding with 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.”
Baldassarre was arrested following a series of field sobriety tests after refusing a breath test. The charges include operating under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, marked lane violation, and speeding, as stated in 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.
A trooper reported that Baldassarre was subsequently discovered in possession of a receipt from Victory Cigar Bar in Worcester, timestamped just hours prior to his arrest.
The complaint detailed the items on the receipt, which included “1 Open cigar, 1 Taylor 10 years Tawny, 1 Taylor 10 years Tawny, 1 open liquor, 1 Stella Artois, and 1 Stella Artois.”
Baldassarre’s license has now been put on hold.
He is scheduled to return to court in March.
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