Oxford Board of Education member Jerome “Jerry” Schwab said he was not driving drunk on July 3.
Ansonia police arrested Schwab, 29, of Oxford, and charged him with driving under the influence and other traffic violations at about 1 a.m. July 3.
But Schwab said he was having a bout of low blood sugar, caused by the medical condition hypoglycemia.
Schwab said he does not remember what happened before his arrest, due to his medical condition.
His blood alcohol content was zero at the time of his arrest, according to a breathalyzer test.
However, police said urine tests are pending.
“I definitely was not out. I wasn’t at a bar. I was at home,” said Schwab, who is also the director of the Oxford Ambulance Association and the president of the board of directors for the Valley Emergency Medical Services.
“I left my house that night, I’m not really sure why.”
Schwab said when his blood sugar drops, he gets “loopy” and “hazy.”
“The last thing I really remember is going to bed at 10 or 11,” Schwab said. “My sugar must have dropped in my sleep and then I drove for some reason. It’s happened before that I’ve passed out from my sugar being low.”
Ansonia Police Lt. Andrew Cota said officers pulled Schwab over after he swerved on Olson Drive and ran a traffic light at Bridge Street.
Schwab failed sobriety tests performed at the scene, Cota said, and was charged with operation of a vehicle while under the influence, failure to drive right and failure to obey a control signal.
Schwab said he was given two breathalyzer tests that night, which he said both registered at zero. He was scheduled to meet with his doctor Monday afternoon and said he has voluntarily stopped driving until he consults with the doctor.
Cota said police officers only performed one breathalyzer test, although Schwab may have been given two receipts by accident.
After the test came up zero, Cota said the officers took urine samples to test for alcohol levels or the presence of any other substance. Those results were not available right away because they were sent to the state police lab.
“If the officer believes he’s intoxicated, gives a breathalyzer and that comes back at zeroes, they go to another test that can be analyzed for something else in the system,” Cota said.
Schwab was arrested based on the result of the field sobriety test, Cota said. A field sobriety test is a battery of curb-side tests which could range from walking a straight line to reciting the alphabet.
Cota said sometimes a medical condition or medications can make a person appear drunk, but said Schwab did not indicate to officers that he had any medical condition or was feeling ill.
Schwab said he doesn’t blame the officer for pulling him over and “doing his job,” but he wished he was given medical attention.
Schwab was released from custody and was scheduled to appear in Derby Superior Court on July 17.
“It is what it is,” Schwab said. “It’s unfortunate for myself and my family that we have to go through this. People automatically jump to conclusions if they hear DUI.”
Board of Education chairman John DeGennaro declined to comment on the arrest until he knew more details about the incident.
