Update The New Haven Register, citing the state’s judicial Web site, reported Thursday that Schwab is due back in court March 2. Earlier this week, court clerks twice declined to release any information, including Schwab’s next court date.
The following was originally posted Feb. 2.
The driving under the influence case against Oxford Ambulance Association Director Jerry Schwab is over — but no one’s talking.
Schwab was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday morning, which would have been his tenth appearance in Superior Court since being pulled over by Ansonia police at 1 a.m. July 3.
However, precisely what happened between Schwab, his attorney Dominick Thomas and prosecutors isn’t known — and no one would comment Tuesday.
Schwab was a member of the Oxford Board of Education at the time of this arrest. He is also president of the board of directors of Valley Emergency Medical Services.
He didn’t return phone calls Tuesday.
His attorney said the case was resolved, but wouldn’t elaborate.
“After thoroughly researching and assessing everything the matter was resolved,” Thomas said.
Employees in the court clerk’s office said Schwab’s file was no longer accessible to the public. The prosecutor’s office said the outcome of the case couldn’t be disclosed.
What Gives?
Schwab’s case could have been dismissed — or he could have worked out a deal where he was accepted into a pre-trial diversionary program.
As soon as a defendant applies for the diversionary program, the case is removed from the public record, according to an informational brochure from the state judicial system.
The pre-trial diversions include alcohol or drug education programs. Most are 10 to 15 weeks. Charges against the person go away if successfully completed.
The alcohol education program is available to people who were charged with driving while under the influence, as long they haven’t participated in the program within 10 years.
Applicants to the program are referred to the Court Support Services Division to determine if they are eligible. They are also evaluated by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Background
Schwab was pulled over at 1:09 a.m. after police said he ran a light, then swerved while driving in the area of Olson Drive and Bridge Street.
He was driving was driving a 2007 Ford Expedition, which has an Oxford town plate and is insured by the Town of Oxford. The vehicle was used by Schwab in his position as director of the Oxford Ambulance Association.
According to a police report, Schwab told police he was just driving around, on his was to meet a friend.
Police said they smelled alcohol on his breath and that his eyes were “very bloodshot,” according to the report.
Police said Schwab was slurring his words and was “having difficulty speaking complete sentences and completing his thoughts.”
When police asked him if he had anything to drink, he said he had two glasses of wine at dinner at 8 p.m. and had taken two Vicodin (pain medication) at dinner. The pain medication was for a knee injury he sustained three months ago, the report said.
The report noted that Schwab failed sobriety tests performed at the scene.
The report said Schwab lost his balance twice and swayed while balancing on one leg and that he put his leg down three times during the test.
He was given a Breathalyzer test, which registered zero, according to the report.
He was charged with operating under the influence, disobeying a traffic signal and failing to drive to the right of the center line.
Schwab Said
Shortly after the incident Schwab told the Valley Independent Sentinel he was having a bout of low blood sugar, caused by the medical condition hypoglycemia.
Schwab said at the time he did not remember what happened before his arrest, due to his medical condition.
Police officers also administered a urine test the night of Schwab’s arrest.
The results are known by prosecutors in Derby and by Schwab’s lawyer — but were never revealed to the public.
