Elgin ISD Superintendent Christopher Bailey is facing a DWI charge after Manor police pulled him over early Thursday, booking him into Travis County Jail hours later on a charge listed as DUI/alcohol. He was released on a $4,000 bond, and the arrest has already prompted school board leaders to address the fallout just weeks into his tenure leading the district.
According to court documents obtained by KVUE, a Manor police officer first noticed a 2014 Toyota Tacoma heading east in the left lane on U.S. 290 near the 15300 block, a lane designated for passing only. The officer observed the truck lingering there before stopping it in the 16300 block of East U.S. 290 and identifying Bailey as the driver. The arrest affidavit states the truck was traveling well below the posted 65 mph speed limit, and the officer reported it had weaved within its lane and crossed both yellow and white lane markings multiple times.
Odor of Alcohol and Failed Field Tests
Once stopped, the officer reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol coming from Bailey, who said he was heading home after dinner at Haywire at the Domain and a stop at a colleague's house. Bailey told the officer he had consumed two glasses of wine and rated his own intoxication at 2 on a scale of zero to 10, the affidavit states.
Field sobriety tests followed. The officer reported that Bailey swayed and repeatedly swallowed hard during an eye-movement test, started too soon, stepped off the line, missed heel-to-toe steps and turned improperly during a walk-and-turn test, and struggled to raise his foot, put it down and swayed during a one-leg-stand test. Bailey was booked into Travis County Jail at 3:43 a.m. Thursday before posting the $4,000 bond.
A Second DWI, Years Apart
Court documents show this is Bailey's second DWI charge. His first came following an incident in Illinois in 2008, according to the same records cited by the station's report.
Board Says Bailey Has Taken Responsibility
Byron Mitchell, president of the Elgin ISD Board of Trustees, said Bailey has been open with the board and has taken full responsibility for the arrest. Mitchell said the board and Bailey both take the matter seriously, and that district policies provide measures for steady, accountable leadership so that student services will continue uninterrupted.
The Elgin ISD Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet Thursday, Nov. 5, to discuss the matter further, per district officials.
A Superintendent Hired Just Weeks Ago
The arrest comes less than two months after trustees formally voted to hire Bailey as superintendent on Sept. 1, following a required 21-day waiting period, according to the Elgin Courier. The district's search drew more than 40 applicants before Bailey emerged as the lone finalist. He came to Elgin ISD after serving as superintendent of Goldthwaite CISD, bringing more than 20 years of experience in public education to the role.
