AISD teaching assistant arrested, charged with DWI in Comal County

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin Independent School District employee was arrested in Comal County earlier this month and charged with DWI with a child under 15 years old, which is a felony, according to Comal County online court records.

Ralph Patrick Hutchens, 37, is listed on the Summit Elementary website as a physical education teacher’s assistant. AISD said this situation happened off campus and confirmed Hutchens is an employee with the district and was placed on administrative leave.

Online court records show Hutchens was arrested in Comal County on Feb. 11. An attorney was not listed for him at the time this article was published.

According to the New Braunfels Police Department, 911 received multiple calls shortly after 2 p.m. on Feb. 11 about a white Dodge Journey driving recklessly and swerving in the roadway on Interstate 35.

Officers located and stopped the vehicle, which had three children inside. They were all girls, ages 9, 11, and 11, according to police.

According to NBPD, officers observed Hutchens was showing signs of intoxication and gave him field sobriety tests. He was taken into custody without incident.

A blood search warrant was issued, and Hutchens was transported to a local hospital for the blood draw before being taken to the Comal County Jail, where he was booked on a charge of driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 years of age, according to New Braunfels police.

Police said the children were released to the custody of family members. The incident remains under investigation and additional charges may be pending, police said.

According to Texas DPS records, Euless Police arrested Hutchens in 2008 for a DWI and he pleaded guilty to a Class B misdemeanor.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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