Macomb County School Officials Arrested for Smoking Marijuana and Driving Under the Influence
Two high-ranking officials from Fitzgerald Public Schools in Macomb County, Michigan, were arrested and charged with smoking marijuana and driving under the influence near a high school. Superintendent Hollie Stange, 38, and Food Services Director Amanda Carroll, 38, were allegedly smoking marijuana in Carroll’s vehicle at a plaza near Fitzgerald High School on Friday. They were later stopped by Warren police and found to be driving under the influence.
Stange is facing charges of possession of marijuana on school grounds, a two-year felony; possession of a weapon in a weapon-free zone, a 93-day misdemeanor; and driving while intoxicated, a 93-day misdemeanor. Carroll is charged with possession of marijuana on school grounds, a two-year felony; a second-offense driving while intoxicated, a one-year misdemeanor; and driving while intoxicated with an occupant under 16 years old, a one-year misdemeanor.
Both women were arraigned on Saturday and were given $5,000 cash/surety bonds. They were placed on leave during the criminal investigation and as the school board pursues an internal review. Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido called the allegations “deeply troubling” and said that the women’s actions put the community at risk.
The women’s attorneys have questioned the evidence against them, with Stange’s attorney, Bill Barnwell, saying that there is no standard in Michigan for what counts as impaired by marijuana. Barnwell also questioned how the distance from the school was measured and said that the gun found in Stange’s vehicle appears to be a hunting rifle, and prosecutors must prove that she knew it was there.
The women are scheduled to appear in court again on January 2 for a probable cause conference and on January 9 for a preliminary examination.
