Police: 'Super drunk' AD invoked Supt.

RICHLAND, Mich. (WOOD) - On the day of his arraignment on 'super drunk' driving charges, more information is coming out about the night that a Parchment schools administrator was arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase.

A Richland police report obtained through the Freedom of Information Act includes statements made by Parchment athletic director and middle school assistant principal John Thompson to police that would seem to indicate that Parchment Superintendent Matt Miller may have known that Thompson had been drinking before that run from the law.

Police arrested Thompson the night of April 4 as he drove through Richland.

The night of the incident, police say, Thompson was swerving and going 38 mph in a 30 mph zone when officers first started following him.

It seems that when Thompson spotted the officer, he was startled, because he then accelerated to more than 90 mph and led police on a chase. A police report said that speeds at times topped 125 mph.

Police dashcam video shows the case and the subsequent stop at the intersection of North Sprinkle and Gull Road. Officers ordered Thompson out of the car, according to a police report, but Thompson didn't respond.

Officers then pulled Thompson out of the car and threw him to the ground.

Inside Thompson's Cadillac, police allegedly found an open vodka bottle and a cup with alcohol in it.

"He was having a hard time standing on his own," the report states. "Thompson's eyes were very bloodshot and glossy."

The report says Thompson was so intoxicated he urinated himself in the emergency room.

Police took Thompson to a local hospital where, the report says, he urinated himself because he was so intoxicated.

At the hospital, a warrant was issued and blood was taken to determine his blood alcohol content level (BAC).

"While the blood was being drawn, he made a comment about it not holding up in court," the police report stated.

Thompson, who hadn't said much since the stop, then asked an officer to speak with him alone.

"I [the officer] asked him what he wanted and he asked if there was anything I could do for him," the report recounts. "He said he wanted to be let go and asked if there was any way to get out of this. I told him there was not."

At the time, according to a police report, Thompson apparently invoked the name of Parchment Public School Superintendent Matt Miller.

The report says that "Thompson said he wanted me [the officer] to call Matt, who was with him tonight. Thompson said the only reason he fled is because Matt said he would be fine. Thompson went on to say that Matt was the superintendent. He said that he was the principal of Parchment High School and that Matt could make this OK."

The report goes on to say, "I [the officer] told Thompson that he was going to jail tonight and that it was final. I told Thompson he was lucky he didn't kill anyone or himself. Thompson pursued the issue and said Matt could take care of this. I told Thompson that he was going to jail and Matt would not be able to do anything for him tonight."

The police report shows Thompson had a BAC of .25 -- well over the legal limit of .08.

It is believed Thompson had been drinking at the Richland Pub. The police report states that "an investigation will be done at the Richland Village Pub as to why Thompson was overserved."

Thompson was arraigned Wednesday on one count of fleeing in a vehicle and one count of operating under the influence with a BAC of more than .17 -- a charge under what is referred to as the 'super drunk' law.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 8.

24 Hour News 8 put in calls to Parchment Public Schools to talk to Miller, but was told he was out of the district Wednesday.

Assistant Superintendent Julie Rohrer said, "The district released a statement already on this issue and will not be commenting further."

When read and excerpt of the police report regarding Thompson's references to Miller, Rohrer stated the district has no knowledge of that and has no comment.

She said that she would pass along requests to speak directly to Miller.

No one would answer any doors at school board members' homes to give a comment Wednesday.

Thompson has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of legal action against him.