Published: November 26, 2008 10:51 pm            

TONAWANDA SCHOOLS: Teacher arraigned in county court

Walter Dudek, the Tonawanda Middle School teacher who nearly eight months ago led police on a brief chase down Fletcher Street, was arraigned on a grand jury indictment Wednesday in Erie County Court.

Dudek, 45, appeared before Erie County Court Judge Michael L. D’Amico.

The Kenmore resident was arraigned on charges of first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, which is a felony; driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of drugs, an “A” misdemeanor; seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; unlawful possession of marijuana; and three traffic infractions.

Dudek’s case will be assigned to a superior court judge, and a pre-trail conference will be held shortly thereafter.

At the time of his arrest by City of Tonawanda police on April 3, Dudek was teaching seventh-grade science in the middle school, where he taught for a decade.

Just before noon that day, police received a call from a middle school administrator who stated that Dudek “was not acting right” in class. Before police arrived at the school, Dudek fled the building and drove off.

A Tonawanda police captain driving an unmarked vehicle spotted Dudek’s car and tried to pull him over, but Dudek refused, leading police on a brief chase down residential Fletcher Street at up to 60 mph. Police were able to box in Dudek’s car on Niagara Street, near Hinds Street.

Police said Dudek appeared lethargic and failed several field sobriety tests. He told authorities that he had taken some Ambien pills, a prescription drug that treats insomnia, Lt. Fredric Foels said.

Later in their investigation, police also allegedly found in Dudek’s briefcase two straws with residue that tested positive for cocaine. There also was a small quantity of marijuana found in the teacher’s car, police said.

Dudek was granted tenure by the Tonawanda School Board in June 2003 and also was appointed as advisor of the chess club that same year.

He was a well-liked teacher who didn’t raise anyone’s suspicions until only a month before the April incident, when students reported that Dudek was stumbling in class, slurring his speech and even falling asleep in class.

As a result, district administrators began to pay closer attention to Dudek’s actions, a source with close knowledge of the situation told the Tonawanda News in April.

Since his arrest, Dudek has been free in lieu of $25,000 bail. He was placed on paid administrative leave by the Tonawanda City School District. District officials could not be reached Wednesday to comment on the teacher’s current status.

        

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