BALDWINSVILLE — Just over a year into his tenure as Baldwinsville Central School District superintendent, Jason Thomson has been arrested for driving while intoxicated.
According to the Baldwinsville Police Department, Thomson was spotted crowd-surfing in the bleachers at the Oct. 7 homecoming football game. Students attending the game reported to district staff that they suspected Thomson was intoxicated. Baldwinsville police officers at the event were informed.
Later that evening, around 8:10 p.m., a BPD officer witnessed Thomson driving without a front license plate and making a turn without using his turn signal.
“The officer made contact with Mr. Thomson and alcohol involvement was detected; field sobriety tests were then administered,” read a release from Baldwinsville Police Chief Mike Lefancheck.
Thomson, 48, was arrested and charged with the following: driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol level greater than .08%, failure to utilize a turn signal and no front license plate.
Thomson was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in the Village of Baldwinsville Justice Court at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26.
Lefancheck told Syracuse.com that Thomson’s blood alcohol level was .15%, nearly twice the legal limit of .08%.
TikTok user kareemaziz11 posted a video Friday evening that appears to show Thomson crowd-surfing in a sea of students. The video is titled “Our superintendent crowd surfing at hoco” and has the caption “absolutely no one does it like bville.”
@kareemaziz11 absolutely no one does it like bville
Katherine Case, a parent in the district, sent the Messenger additional videos and a photo that appeared to be from Snapchat. Case said she found the photo and video through Snapchat’s Map feature, which shows content created near a user’s geographical location. She said she was not sure who originally posted the Snapchats but the content was public.
Case also forwarded an email she received at 10:46 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, via BCSD’s SchoolMessenger platform. The email was signed by BCSD Board of Education President Jennifer Patruno.
“The district is cooperating with local law enforcement as this matter is investigated. We appreciate the prompt response by school staff in responding to this matter,” Patruno wrote. “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 appointed superintendent last year. The BCSD Board of Education voted 7-1 at a special meeting Aug. 16, 2021, to approve the three-year agreement with Thomson. His annual starting salary was $196,000. His three-year contract with the district expires Aug. 16, 2024.
Prior to a brief stint at Ichabod Crane Central School District in the Hudson Valley, Thomson spent nine years as superintendent of Delaware Academy Central School District in Delhi, New York.
