High school teacher arrested

By Jonathan Cook
Turley Publications Reporter

STURBRIDGE – A 33-year-old Tantasqua High School math teacher was arrested Sunday, Feb. 28 charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs. According to police, the teacher’s young son was in the back seat during the incident.
Police identified the driver as Thedore Leth-Steensen III of 7 Bennett Lane Holland.
At 12:26 a.m., police Officers Joseph Lombardi, Pamela Desplaines, and Daniel Hemingway responded to a call from Burger King reporting a red sedan sitting for a long time at the beginning of the drive through line.
Upon arrival, Officer Desplaines saw a red Buick sedan exiting the parking lot.
She also witnessed the car drive up onto the sidewalk. When the driver was stopped, he had to be asked several times for his license and registration, but he appeared distracted and apparently made several attempts to fasten his seat belt instead of getting his documents, according to the report.
Leth-Steensen’s young son was in the back seat at the time. According to the report, Leth-Steensen did not fare well on his roadside sobriety screening.
He also made remarks to police he had exceeded his recommended dosage of the medication Midran, which he takes for migraines. According to the report Leth-Steensen said he’d taken four or five pills. After being transported to the police station Leth-Steensen told police he had also taken Methadone for back pain. According to the report, he said he was also prescribed, Lorazepam, an anti-anxiety drug, but had not taken any that day.
When Leth-Steensen’s possessions were being documented a hollow Bic style pen was found in his right front pocket, the report states. When asked what it was for, Leth-Steensen replied he was in a lot of pain. The pen contained residue of pink and white powders that police sent to the lab for identification.
Social services were contacted because of the involvement of a young child. Leth-Steensen was charged with operating under the influence of drugs, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, marked lanes violation and reckless endangerment of child.