Chief Sealth HS Principal Removed After Rollover Accident

Seattle Schools had this to say:

Dear Chief Sealth International families and staff,

We are writing to share some important personnel information with you.

At approximately 3 a.m. Sunday, Principal Ray Garcia-Morales was arrested by the Seattle Police Department for driving under the influence and reckless endangerment. He was immediately placed on administrative leave until further notice.

According to court records, no charges were filed, and the case has been closed. As this is a personnel issue, further details are confidential to protect privacy rights.

Assistant Principal Hope Perry will be stepping in to serve in his absence. Please feel free to reach out to her with school-related questions.

As other questions arise concerning this sensitive matter, please send them to publicaffairs@seattleschools.org.

Sincerely,

Bev Redmond
Chief of Staff
Seattle Public Schools

It is being reported that Principal Garcia-Morales resigned his post as principal. 

Coverage from the West Seattle Blog:

We had updated the story yesterday when police confirmed the driver was arrested for DUI and reckless endangerment – and as we finished writing this story, SPD confirmed the 47-year-old Garcia-Morales was that driver. Jail records say he was booked into jail Sunday morning and released Monday evening. The case documents note that the City Attorney’s Office declined to file charges now but could still in the future.

What appears to have happened is Garcia-Morales attended a party Sunday night with a woman friend. He had been drinking and appeared to the friend to be almost asleep. When she suggested they leave, he apparently went into a rage but they got into the car. He was raging and driving erratically and the friend began filming him, out of fear.

At some point, she convinced him to let her drive but she alleges that he then grabbed the wheel, open the door, and made some statement about dying. This was on the West Seattle Bridge where the car flipped. Somehow she got out and fled. 

When police got there he claimed he had been alone and denied drinking. The officers observed that he looked and acted like he had been drinking. They also noticed the driver's seat pushed way up and could not have fit his body as the driver. It's unclear if the police did any DUI testing and he was let go.

He didn't own the car and the police went to look for the registered owner who turned out to be the woman friend. She said he had verbally abused her in the past as well as abusing animals.  

The police went to his relative's home and arrested him on DUI charges and reckless endangerment. One news source said the woman declined to press charges and that may be one reason that the Seattle City Attorney's office has not yet filed criminal charges against him. They also may be waiting for lab results or other evidence testing. They do note:

You will be released today without conditions. However, the City Attorney’s office may file charges against you in the future in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington.

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