Brandywine school board trustee charged with OWI

Published 2:47 pm Friday, May 1, 2015

Brandywine school board trustee Jason Spitler is facing a preliminary charge of operating while intoxicated out of St. Joseph County, Michigan, according to the district court office there.

Jason Spitler

Jason Spitler

A copy of the ticket issued to Spitler obtained by the Niles Daily Star said Spitler was operating a vehicle on Chamberlain Road at or near Ayers Road in Flowerfield Township, which is located in St. Joseph County, at around 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 29.

The ticket said Spitler was charged with misdemeanor operating while intoxicated — alcohol, but did not provide any other details about the incident itself.

Spitler is scheduled to be arraigned on the charge May 7 in St. Joseph County District Court, according to the ticket.

Spitler declined to comment when reached by phone Thursday.

Spitler was appointed to the school board in 2014 after a board member resigned. He was elected to the board in November of 2014.

Brandywine Supt. John Jarpe said he spoke to Spitler, who was apologetic.

“It was a personal matter and a personal situation of his… he was not acting in his capacity as a school board trustee,” Jarpe said. “I spoke with him and told him I’d offer to help him any way I could.”

Jarpe said to the best of his knowledge this would not affect Spitler’s status as a school board trustee.