School Administrator Faces OUI and Gun Charges

A Marblehead school administrator was released on $2,500 cash bail Tuesday after his arraignment on charges including OUI, second offense, and being a licensee carrying a loaded weapon while intoxicated.

Kevin Meagher, 47, 2 Pearl Road, Saugus, is also charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, marked lane violations and speeding.

A person who answered the phone at Meagher's address Tuesday said he was not at home and he had no comment.

On Monday night at 8:14 Meagher was stopped by police after his Ford Expedition reportedly almost hit a cruiser on the outbound side of Atlantic Avenue by CVS, officer Daniel Katz said in the police report.

The officer estimated Meagher's vehicle was traveling 45 mph in an area with a 20 mph speed limit and full of businesses, parked cars and with pedestrians crossing the street.

The report also says that Meagher was repeatedly belligerent with the officer.

"I asked Meagher where he was coming from, and he stated back to me, 'Where were you coming from? Why does it matter? I am coming from work as a school administrator,'" the officer wrote in the report.

The officer said Meagher fumbled with his wallet and had trouble finding his license and registration.

The officer stated that Meagher slurred his speech, his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and a strong odor of alcohol came from his breath.

Officer Katz asked Meagher if he was taking any medication.

"Meagher answered back to me in a belligerent manner, 'No. are you taking any medication?'" the officer stated in the report.

As the officer was placing Meagher in handcuffs, he saw a knife case in a center console cupholder.

He asked the man if he had any knives or weapons on him.

Meagher said he had a knife in his right front pocket, the report states.

An officer found a loaded Smith & Wesson 38-caliber handgun in a holster in the right pocket.

"Officer Adkerson asked Meagher why he did not inform us of the loaded handgun, and Meagher stated, 'I don't consider a gun a weapon,'" the report states.

Police also found a knife in his coat pocket and bottles of alcohol, nips. They were an empty and a full bottle of Grand Marnier Liqueur and a bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey.

Meagher refused to take a field sobriety test or a Breathalyzer.

And at one point, later, at the station, he repeatedly stared down police officers, the officer said.

Police said they found five empty 187ml bottles of Sutter Home Wine on the rear passenger side floor of the Ford Explorer. The bottles were still wet inside, officer Christopher Adkerson said in the report.

He also found a full unopened bottle, 50ml, of cognac.

Meagher is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on March 11 in Lynn District Court.

At his arraignment the judge set conditions of his release: no alcohol, random screenings, not to operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, not to possess a firearm and surrender all firearms.