A Bellefontaine High School teacher and coach has been placed on administrative leave following a drunk driving arrest that occurred during the early morning hours, Sunday, Jan. 28., the school district said in a statement.
Aaron Peitsmeyer, 40, has been placed on leave pending the outcome of an “internal investigation” into his weekend arrest for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
Officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department were on patrol around 2 a.m. Sunday in the 1300 block of Main Street when they reportedly observed Peitsmeyer operating a dark-colored Kia SUV traveling northbound in excess of the speed limit.
Officers followed Peitsmeyer’s vehicle and observed the SUV travel on top of the double yellow line in the area of Lake Avenue.
His speed was recorded at between 50 and 55 mph in the 35 and 25 mph zones. At least one other marked lanes violation was reported by officers as well as Peitsmeyer reportedly could not keep his SUV inside the lane.
A traffic stop was initiated in the 200 block of south Main Street and Peitsmeyer struck a curb as he pulled into a parking stall on the east side of the roadway, officers report.
Upon making contact with Peitsmeyer, police detected signs of alcohol impairment. A strong odor of alcoholic beverage was detected and his speech was slow and slurred.
Peitsmeyer initially denied having consumed any alcohol and eventually admitted to having consumed “three or four beers.”
Some field sobriety tests were attempted, but were not successful. Peitsmeyer reportedly at one point offered to leave the vehicle parked along Main Street and walk back to his residence.
He was detained temporarily and taken back to the police station, where a breath test measured .244 — about three times the legal limit.
He was charged with OVI, speeding and the marked lanes violations and was released to a sober driver.
Peitsmeyer was hired Dec. 18 as BHS head football coach. The high school staff directory also lists him as a business class teacher.
