High-profile educator arrested

By Erny Zah
Navajo Times

SHIPROCK, Aug. 29, 2011

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Matthew Tso




The Central Consolidated School Board president has been issued a criminal summons by the Navajo Nation stemming from a late July arrest, according to Navajo court documents.

Matthew Tso, 34, president of the CCSD school board, was arrested for alleged public intoxication on July 30 shortly after midnight near the Old Wool program in Shiprock.

Tso reportedly had "a strong odor of intoxicating liquor emitting from his breath," the report stated.

In addition, the report stated a 1.5-liter bottle of wine was in the parked vehicle, in which Tso was sitting in the back seat.

Tso is scheduled to be arraigned in Shiprock District Court on Sept. 12.

Alexander Lapahie, 20, which is under the legal age for alcohol consumption, was arrested with Tso.

Tso, who also sits on the San Juan College Board of Regents and is a policy analyst for the Navajo Nation's Department of Diné Education, has been at the center of an ongoing battle for control over CCSD.

He sparked angry debates as he pushed for the relocation of the district's business office from Kirtland to Shiprock, enraging many Kirtland citizens.

Regarding his arrest, Tso contends that he repeatedly asked for a Breathalyzer test but was never given one the night of his arrest and that he wasn't read his Miranda rights before he was arrested.

In an interview Tuesday morning, he said he hasn't received any legal documents regarding his arrest or pending charges.

"I haven't received any confirmation whatsoever," he said.

He also said he isn't aware of any legal drinking age for the Navajo Reservation, since the person he was arrest with was under the legal drinking age of 21.



"It's to my understanding, there is no minimum legal drinking age (on the Navajo Nation)," he said.

He added that Lapahie was older than 18 years of age and is thus an adult.

But Tso stated he doesn't understand why his alleged charge of public intoxication is cause for so much strife.

"If this is a case of public intoxication, then why is this case even being prosecuted?" he asked, saying that hundreds of people a month are arrested for public intoxication.

In addition, he feels like there is a double standard for public officials and regular citizens who aren't in the public eye.

He also said that the news media has treated him unfairly because an article mentioned his gay lifestyle.

On Aug. 18, a local newspaper reported his arrest and included comments about his gay lifestyle.

"I thought it was pretty low of the other publication to make this about sexual orientation, when the incident that happened was not about that," he said.

"There are students out there who are being bullied because of who they are," he said alluding to a being homosexual.

However, he has stated publically he is sorry for his actions.

He read a statement to the CCSD Board on Aug. 18.

"I want to sincerely and deeply apologize to my fellow board members, to our administration as well as to our communities, our parents, staff, teachers, students, and especially to my family and to all the people who believe in me," he said.

The incident also resulted in him being put on leave from his position at the Department of Diné Education for five days.

DODE officials declined comment for this article.

Tso added he doesn't plan to resign any of his posts.

In a CCSD school board meeting Tuesday night, the public comment period was restricted to not mentioning Tso by name because his public intoxication charges are still pending.

"We can't comment at all about (Tso's) situation because it is still under litigation," said James Preminger, CCSD spokesman.

He added that Tso is an elected official and not an employee of the district.

"However, as board president, he has done tremendous work for the students, staff and teachers," Preminger said.

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