A man who was responsible for driving special needs children for Medina City Schools was arrested Thursday when he was allegedly found intoxicated while transporting several students.
Andrew Sasala, 66, of Brunswick, has been charged with operating a vehicle under the influence and endangering children. Sasala is employed by Suburban School Transportation, a company that Medina City Schools contracts with to drive special needs students in the district.
Medina police were called around 4 p.m. when a witness at the Cleveland Metro Parks Paw Paw Picnic Area in North Royalton watched the driver leave the van and throw a bottle of wine in a garbage can, authorities said. The witness told police that after the driver left the vehicle the van rolled in reverse over a curb.
North Royalton police searched the area but didn't find the van. Medina police later located the vehicle in the 100 block of Lafayette Road.
Aside from the driver, the van had three students and an adult aid on board. Sasala appeared to be intoxicated when officers questioned him. Sasala was given a sobriety test, but he performed "poorly," police said.
Sasala was arrested and taken to Medina County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 14.
