Updated 2/7/12, 3pm
BRISTOL — Vermont State Police on Monday evening cited Vergennes Union High School Co-Principal Edwin Webbley for driving under the influence of alcohol, an action taken after VSP received a call from his wife at their Bristol home and were told Webbley’s car had struck the back of their garage.
According to a VSP press release, Webbley’s wife, Carrie Askren, told VSP at about 6:50 p.m. on Monday that Webbley was “intoxicated and that he was a danger to himself and others.”
Trooper Joe Szarejko reported that when he arrived at the home he found damage to the car and the garage and determined that Webbley had “operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.” VSP made no information immediately available on Webbley’s alleged blood-alcohol count. Later in the afternoon, VSP alleged Webbley’s BAC had tested at 0.10, just over the legal limit of 0.08.
Troopers took Webbley to VSP’s New Haven barracks, where he was cited to answer the charge in Addison District Court on Feb. 27.
Addison Northwest Supervisory Union Superintendent Thomas O’Brien said at his recommendation that Webbley had agreed to go on medical leave “for at least a week,” in part because of chronic back and leg pain that has recently plagued him.
On Tuesday morning, O’Brien said it would be inappropriate to say anything more.
“I don’t know that I can … comment because he is entitled to due process,” O’Brien said.
Webbley, 57, in his fifth year at VUHS, was honored by the Vermont Principals’ Association as the 2010 Robert F. Pierce Vermont Secondary Principal of the Year, and several of the school’s teachers have earned statewide honors during his tenure.
Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at [email protected].