Medina City Schools employee resigns after OVI arrest

STOW , Ohio (WJW) — An ex- Medina City Schools worker suspended earlier this month after administrators suspected he had been drinking was arrested and charged with OVI after leaving the school in his car.

Bryan J. Thompson, 34, of Stow, worked as a psychologist at Eliza Northrop Elementary. He now faces misdemeanor counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

On May 3, district administrators suspected Thompson was “under the influence of alcohol” while at work, according to a statement from the district. Administrators told Thompson to stay at the school, but he left anyway in his vehicle, according to a statement from a district spokesperson.

Administrators then called police, according to a police report. An officer spotted his car along state Route 91 and followed it into a parking lot outside his residence.

Speaking to the officer, Thompson denied drinking “despite a significant odor coming from his person,” and instead said he had recently increased his dosage of a medication which he said may have affected him. Thompson initially refused to undergo a field sobriety test, but then consented and ultimately failed.

He was arrested and booked into the Stow jail.

Superintendent Aaron Sable, in a letter sent to district families on May 6, three days later, stressed that as a “non-teaching staff member,” Thompson never came in contact with or was responsible for any students that day.

Thompson was placed on administrative leave but chose to submit his resignation, effective May 7.

“The safety and security of our students and staff are paramount,” Sable wrote. “We continue to enforce strict policies and procedures to ensure a safe learning environment for all students and staff.”

Thompson pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on May 7, court filings show. A judge gave him a $5,000 personal recognizance bond. His license was also suspended, and he must undergo electronic monitoring of his alcohol use.

He’s due back in court on July 2 to appeal his license suspension, according to court records. His attorney argues police did not have probable cause to stop his vehicle, nor did they obtain a “proper positive test result,” reads a court filing.

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