Prosecutors Wednesday turned over a toxicology report and requested more information from Oxford Ambulance Association Executive Director Jerome “Jerry” Schwab in Derby Superior Court.
Schwab, 29, was charged July 3 with DUI, failure to drive right and failure to obey a traffic signal after Ansonia police stopped him on Bridge Street.
Schwab, also a member of the Oxford Board of Education, has attributed his arrest to a medical condition.
At the time of the arrest, Schwab was driving a 2007 Ford Expedition, which has a town plate and is insured by Oxford.
The vehicle is used by Schwab in his position as director of the Oxford Ambulance Association, which provides ambulance service to residents.
Although police said Schwab failed a field sobriety test, breathalyzer results show a reading of zero.
Schwab also submitted a urine sample the night of his arrest, which was sent to a state laboratory for a toxicology examination.
Prior to his appearance in court Wednesday, state prosecutors gave Thomas the results from the toxicology report and requested more information from Schwab.
Thomas did not say specifically what additional information prosecutors requested. He added that he has not seen the toxicology report, and will need to review the results.
Thomas said Schwab had previously submitted personal information to prosecutors and is cooperating with the investigation.
“We need to take a look at the report,” Thomas said.
The night of his arrest, Schwab allegedly told police he had consumed two glasses of wine and taken two Vicodin pills earlier in the evening to treat a knee injury. In the police report, officers noted that his breath smelled of alcohol and that he was having trouble speaking.
The case was continued until Nov. 24.
I guess this isn’t as cut and dry as Schwab and his attorney would have us believe. Could it be that something else showed up on the Toxicology Test. I do enjoy the fact that this has been pushed until after the election this way it won’t reflect poorly upon the first selectman for; one not doing anything about him driving in the town vehicle and two appointing him to the Education Board.
Mr. Happy…you must be high on something! Now you try to accuse the First Selectman of manipulating the courts? Jerry’s guilt is one thing, but once again lying about an issue shows your total ignorance of the court system.
Once again the liar, liar pants on fire routine.
Mr. Happy & Crazy in Oxford,
Can I just tell you that mistakes happen. Atleast he didn’t get hurt or hurt someone else. Mistake was made. Lesson learned.
Mary…no matter how much of a loon Mr. Happy is, it doesn’t take away from the fact that a public servant supposedly used a public vehicle in the commission of an illegal act. Yes, nobody got hurt THIS TIME, but what if someone did or does in the future because if Jerry’s “medical” issue? The town will be liable!
At the very least, the town should discontinue from providing a vehicle to Jerry. Let Jerry buy his own vehicle and let him expense it through his business, which Oxford pays for as well.
The First Selectman should have been more proactive. Take the car away and ask for his resignation from both the Ambulance and the Board of Education.
Everywhere but Oxford.. You are innocent until PROVEN guilt..
People get a life.. Look at the articles from other towns. Do you ever see as many posts? NO. I know, why don’t the people who have so much time to post nasty negative things about people in town, do some volunteer work. I for one can not wait until this election is over.
I also hope that this web site, rethinks its needs to have public postings. Nothing is being gained by this. People are being hurt and names dragged through the mud..
Why should Schwab be asked to step down from the BOE? In previous years people on Boards were arrested for things and they weren’t asked to resign. I agree with “about time” in that this web site should think twice about having comments voiced, it’s getting out of control and I wouldn’t really miss it anyway.
I strongly disagree with the notion that citizens should be prohibited from questioning elected officials in a monitored forum.
Rita do you think taking pills, drinking wine & then going for a joy ride is a good example for school aged kids?
Every citizen has the right to say what they want to say, whether you agree with them or not. Arguing back and forth is also a right and sometimes leads to progress and movement on an issue. This forum is doing a service in that people are being allowed to express their thoughts and tell their side of an issue. Maybe someone will read a comment and understand an issue better or maybe they will get more confused, but speaking your mind is a right we all have and I thank this website for allowing comments.
Thank you Eugene!
Rita…in response to your comment about “In previous years people on Boards were arrested for things and they weren’t asked to resign.”
There is NO comparison here! Those Board Members you mention were driving their own personal vehicles and not driving a town vehicle with a municipality’s insurance policy. What transpired is a HUGE liability for the town and a lawsuit waiting to happen. Thankfully no one got hurt including Jerry but what if someone did? What if it was your child? Would that make it acceptable? I’m a mother and my repsonse to that is “NO WAY!”
Do you think that if Mr. Schwab worked in the corporate America world and did this with a company vehicle that he would still have his job??? NO! The town Maryann at minimum should’ve seeked some disciplinary action but ZERO was given to him by either the Maryann or the Ambulance Association. I believe the Ambulance Association had a conflict of interest anyway because that’s his immediate family (mom, sister, etc.) So Maryann should’ve provided him with some disciplinary action but ZERO was taken.
Rita……for your comment about “I agree with “about time” in that this web site should think twice about having comments voiced, it’s getting out of control and I wouldn’t really miss it anyway.” If someone doesn’t want to be talked about, then they shouldn’t be a public figure but most importantly it’s the First Amendment of the United States Constitution “Freedom of Speech” So be it if you wouldn’t miss it but enough said! I think I’ve made my point!
I agree with the posting of Mr. Happy on October 28, CrazyinOxford October 29, 6:53am, Chickenfarmer October 29, Eugene Driscoll October 30 and Happy2BOxfordCitizen October 31 regarding the point of Mr. Schwab’s arrest. Indeed we still need to wait to find the results of the toxology reports to be fair as he is innocent of that charge until proven guilty. Very troubling however is the vehicle Mr. Schwab, Oxford Ambulance Association Executive Director, was driving at the time of the arrest. This vehicle was a Ford Expedition with a town plate, insured by Oxford and used by Mr. Schwab in his position as director of the Oxford Ambulance Association, which provides ambulance service to Oxford residents.
The point is what was Mr. Schwab doing in Ansonia with a town vehicle 1 o’clock in the morning? Why wasn’t he driving his personal vehicle? Who is paying for these travel expenses out of town? Most importantly if there was a tragic situation in Oxford, how could Mr. Schwab, as Director, have responded immeadiately with his ambulance vehicle when he was in Ansonia?
The First Selectman, in my view, was wrong not to discipline Mr. Schwab for taking the town vehicle out of Oxford. Is there some kind of a cover up?
“Chicken Farmer,” no, I do not think “taking pills, drinking wine and then going for a joy ride is a good example for school aged kids” or even adults, thank you very much! I’m actually an advocate for putting GPS devices in all Town vehicles throughout the State because I do feel certain people in all Towns abuse the right of having a Town-owned vehicle and it is the taxpayer that ends up filling their tanks when we have our own tanks to fill.
Happy2BOxfordCitizen, I get it about being a Town-owned vehicle with liability, etc. However, he was not acting as a representative of the BOE when this happened. The ambulance group did vote to take the vehicle away until he was given written doctor approval to return to driving. I am well aware of the First Amendment. Thanks for being so “Happy2BOxfordCitizen.” You don’t sound so happy though.
Senhora Rita, I never said or suggested that he should resign! So tell whomever suggested it! Eu esta mucho feliz para vive na Oxford! Mucho Gracias!