Laurel School District superintendent arrested on DUI charge Saturday night
This story has been updated to include a statement from the Laurel Board of Education.
The superintendent of the Laurel School District was arrested Saturday night for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.
A Laurel Police Department officer was conducting a traffic stop on Route 13, near Camp Road, around 11:30 p.m., when a pickup truck passed them in the right lane and without slowing down, a department news release said.
A second officer on the scene followed the truck and noted the operator was "driving almost entirely in the shoulder, swerving to the left highway lane, and back right over the shoulder 'rumble strips,'" the release said. The vehicle's registration was expired, as well.
The officer stopped the truck and identified the driver as 53-year-of Shawn Larrimore. "Multiple indicators" of alcohol impairment were noted by the officer, the release said.
Larrimore refused a breathalyzer test so a blood sample was taken, the results of which usually take a month or so to obtain, the release said.
Larrimore was charged with DUI and various traffic offenses before being released, pending a court date.
How the district is responding
As superintendent, Larrimore is the top official in the Laurel School District, which serves about 2,600 students, according to the district website.
Brent Nichols was the only Laurel Board of Education member to immediately return phone calls on Monday.
"I'm OK with it," he said. "Changing a superintendent is quite an ordeal."
The board released a statement Tuesday.
"The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community are of paramount importance to us," the statement said.
Larrimore will "be away from his duties as superintendent for an indefinite amount of time," according to the statement, but disciplinary action will not be publicly disclosed, as per district policy.
"We are deeply concerned about the allegations outlined in the news article and are committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and accountability within our district leadership," the statement said. "The Board of Education understands the importance of transparency and will provide updates to the community as the need arises."
Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on Southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Superintendent of Laurel School District charged with DUI
