Golf, girls
 basketball 
coach arrested: Teacher charged with delivering alcohol to minor

MORRISON – Morrison High School varsity golf and girls basketball coach, Benjamin P. Thomas, was arrested early Friday in connection with a domestic disturbance and underage drinking incident at his Tampico home.

Details of the domestic incident and ensuing arrest were unavailable from the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department, which had not completed its investigation but issued a brief arrest report on Friday.

Thomas, a 26-year-old business teacher at Morrison High School, did not return a message left on his cell phone seeking comment. The two sheriff’s deputies, who made the arrest just after midnight, were off duty until Monday, and Sheriff Kelly Wilhelmi had no further information.

Morrison School District Superintendent Suellen Girard said Friday that administration had not learned of the arrest but that district officials would conduct an internal review then meet with attorneys if necessary.

“We are committed to ensuring that our students remain in a safe environment,” Girard said. “The first step is to determine the facts. ... Everyone is entitled to due process.”

Charles Fischbach, 20, of Sterling, was arrested for underage consumption of alcohol after an investigation by deputies on the scene, according to the sheriff’s statement.

Fischbach’s telephone number is unlisted; he could not be reached for comment.

As of Friday afternoon, neither Thomas nor Fischbach had been charged with a crime, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office. Misdemeanor charges are expected to be filed on Monday.

Both men were processed by Whiteside County sheriff’s deputies and release with a notice to appear, according to the statement.

The 2008-2009 season was Thomas’ first as varsity basketball coach.