A Revolutionary War re-enactor who was scheduled to speak to children at a Boxford school this week was instead arrested after police say he drove there under the influence of alcohol.

The principal of Spofford Pond School called authorities Tuesday after Denis Cormier, 60, was asked to leave the school when the Dracut man was a half-hour late to his presentation and appeared to be intoxicated, Boxford Police Chief James Riter told WHDH.

According to a police report filed in Haverhill District Court, a detective who responded with Riter to the elementary school asked Cormier if he had been drinking, to which Cormier said, “No.”


He later said he had only coffee to drink, the document says.

“It should be noted that I could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Denis’ person,” Det. Brian Neeley wrote.

Neeley also found an empty nip bottle of vodka in Cormier’s pocket, he wrote.

Cormier agreed to take a portable breath test, which showed he allegedly had a blood alcohol content of .205 percent — more than double the legal limit of .08 percent, police said.

Dracut man presenting a program as a war re-enactor at a boxford school ends up behind bars after showing up at the school drunk #7news pic.twitter.com/7hR7BeKQvz — Steve Cooper (@scooperon7) March 5, 2020

Neeley wrote he saw Cormier’s eyes were “glassy and bloodshot,” and noted that Cormier had told school faculty he drove to the school that day.

He was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of liquor and was arraigned in Haverhill District Court later on Tuesday. A second breath test at the police station showed Cormier had a blood alcohol content of .19 percent, according to Neeley’s report.

Cormier never interacted with any students at the school, police told WHDH.

“This one’s just out of the ordinary,” Riter told the news station about the incident. “Schools have this all the time and I’m sure that when they hire someone like this they never plan on it (happening). So just notice when everyone is coming into your building, keep an eye on them. It can happen.”


No one answered when a reporter knocked on the door at Cormier’s listed address, WHDH reports.

In court Tuesday, Cormier was ordered to a 28-day detox, according to the clerk’s office. His case is due back in court on April 8.