Austintown teacher placed on paid leave amid DUI, child endangering charges
An Austintown Middle school employee has been placed on administrative leave, after she was charged with driving while intoxicated and endangering children.
AUSTINTOWN TWP., Ohio - An Austintown Middle school employee has been placed on administrative leave, after she was charged with driving while intoxicated and endangering children.
Thirty-six-year-old Amanda Laird, an Intervention Specialist at the middle school, has been placed on "paid administrative leave" from the Austintown School District "until further notice".
A release from the district says that the leave is pending a criminal investigation "outside of the district".
While the district notes that the allegations against Laird stem from an incident not on school grounds, officials say that "components of the Ohio Revised Code suggest her actions could be grounds for disqualification."
According to police, was arrested after a traffic stop on the 5000 block of Baker Street on March 27 around 11 pm.
According to the police report, dispatch received a call about an intoxicated female at the GetGo gas station on Mahoning Avenue in Austintown.
Officers say Laird got in her car and left the GetGo parking lot and slowly traveled across five lanes of traffic.
Reports say Laird stopped at a red light at the intersection of Dehoff Drive and Mahoning Avenue and did not move for ten seconds before turning onto North Kimberly Avenue.
Laird continued on North Kimberly into the wrong lane toward oncoming traffic.
Police say Laird stopped in the driveway of a home on Baker Street and ran towards the house with a plastic bag.
According to the report, Laird tried to make it up the stairs and into the house but missed the only step and fell onto the ground and into chairs on the porch.
Officers say Laird's speech was slurred and she had an odor of alcohol.
Reports say Laird was asked to move towards the police cruiser and told police "I'm home and on my property so it's good, so yeah."
Laird was placed under arrest but refused to walk with officers to the cruiser.
According to police, Laird was lifted into the car while telling police "you can't take me."
Officers say two children under the age of five were inside the house at the time of the arrest.
Reports say Laird began hitting her head off the car door to get the officers attention.
Police say Laird was transported to the Austintown Police Department and given a breathalyzer test.
According to the report, Laird's breathalyzer test resulted in a .230g/210L. The legal limit in Ohio is .08.
