OHSAA: High school football referee arrested on drug charges before game suspended

WESTLAKE, Ohio - A high school referee arrested on drug charges before a game has now been suspended, according to OHSAA.

The state’s athletic governing body said it will decide whether Roger Ward, 22, of Chardon, will officiate in the future once his case is complete.

On Friday, Ward drove into the Westlake police station parking lot, and told police he was going to the Westlake vs. Olmsted Falls game and wanted to know where to park, police said.

The officer, who happened to be a K-9 handler, noticed the strong smell of marijuana coming from Ward’s car. Westlake police said the officer also spotted stems and marijuana on the car’s center console.

Officers seized $1,291, a scale, a pipe, marijuana in jars, plastic bags, cigars filled with marijuana and a knife.

Police said Ward was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of criminal tools, carrying various weapons and preparation of drugs for shipment. He was taken to the Cuyahoga County Jail on Monday.

Westlake police said he was not wearing his referee uniform when he was arrested. He was convicted of disorderly conduct in 2010 in the Chardon Municipal Court.

OHSAA said Ward could be terminated but the final decision depends on the outcome of his criminal case.