Boozed-up teacher busted at school, cops say

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - A substitute teacher seen pounding his head on a wall was sent to the principal's office and then hauled off to jail Tuesday.

Police said Clay Loya caused a big scene at Roswell High School, and it wasn't hard to find the reason why.  Police said he was drunk.  

The school security officer at Roswell High School said the substitute drew a lot of attention to himself, not because of what he was doing in the classroom, but what he was doing outside.

Students and staff were distracted by a man banging his head against the wall of the school building outside.

School security called the school resource officer, who said Loya, 29, reeked of alcohol and appeared to be drunk.

"It is a little surprising to have to be there to police, the teachers, but that's what the SROs are there for," said Officer Erica O'Bryon of the Roswell Police Department. "They're to keep the schools safe, whether it be on the teacher's side or the student's side."

Police said Loya had a hard time walking straight. The school resource officer took Loya to the principal's office and searched his belongings.

The officer said they found an open bottle of vodka, an empty beer can and a soda bottle filled with alcohol.

According to court records, the school resource officer said Loya became aggressive with police and refused to cooperate. Loya was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer.

"It always sets a bad example for students when we have somebody that's intoxicated either at a game or activity, or in the classroom like this, and certainly we don't condone this," Roswell Independent School District Superintendent Tom Burris told KRQE News 13.

School officials said Loya did not appear drunk when he checked in with secretaries that morning, and it's unclear whether Loya was drinking in the classroom around students.
    
He had been teaching that day, and police said Loya did have alcohol in the class. Burris called this an unfortunate event and added school officials did act quickly. 

"We're always concerned about student safety, and always concerned that students are surrounded by people who give them good guidance and set good role models," said Burris. "We can't always control that."

The superintendent said the schools do conduct background checks for all substitutes.  KRQE News 13 checked court records on Loya that show he has been convicted of DWI in 2007 and last year in Portales court. 

Burris said Loya will be taken off the substitute list and will no longer teach in the Roswell district.