Iowa high school baseball coach arrested on public intoxication charge

Boyer Valley of Dunlap baseball coach Jay Petersen has been suspended for the rest of the season following his arrest Friday on a  charge of public intoxication.

The incident occurred after the team’s game at Coon Rapids, according to Coon Rapids Police Chief Joel Roetman, who was notified around 9:45 p.m. Friday that a person was consuming alcohol at the baseball field.

Roetman said he approached Petersen and performed a field sobriety test. Peterson’s blood-alcohol level exceeded 0.2 percent, according to Roetman. In Iowa, the legal limit to be considered drunken driving is 0.08 percent. 

“As soon as the ballgame was over, I interviewed him and investigated the allegations he was consuming and or intoxicated on a public area there at the school,” Roetman said.

Petersen was cited and released, but was not allowed to ride back on the bus to Boyer Valley.

Boyer Valley athletic director Daniel Steele said Saturday morning Petersen has been suspended.

“I know coach (Petersen) very well,” Steele said. “He’s been a neighbor for 20 years. Just out of respect for him and the school, I better not comment on anything.”

Steele said Petersen has "had a tough time" in his life in recent years. His 2-year-old son, Cade, died in 2012 of a heart condition. In 2013, Boyer Valley student Jason Hoffmann was killed after crashing his pickup truck.

Petersen coached Hoffmann in football and track.

"He never put the kids in a situation to get them in trouble," Steele said.

“As far as I know, it’s always been a safe environment. It’s been more of a personal struggle.”