The president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana is on administrative leave after being arrested by Valparaiso police late Thursday on several misdemeanor charges related to operating while intoxicated.
According to online court records, Ryan A. Smiley, 45, of the 3100 block of Coachman Trail, Valparaiso, was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person; operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 or more; operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to at least .08 but less than .15; operating a vehicle while intoxicated; and reckless driving at an unreasonable high or low speed so to endanger safety.
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A police report was not available late Friday, but he was booked into the Porter County Jail at 10:43 p.m. Thursday after his arrest by Valparaiso police, according to jail records.
Smiley does not yet have an attorney and an initial hearing had not been scheduled as of late Friday afternoon, according to online court records.
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The clubs’ board of directors issued the following statement:
“Unfortunately, the governing board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana has been informed that President and CEO Ryan Smiley was arrested during the early hours of October 14 charged with reckless driving and driving under the influence. These charges of misconduct are inconsistent with employee conduct standards as established by the Governing Board.
“President and CEO Smiley has been placed on administrative leave with management tasks being assigned to the Executive Team. The important work of the organization will be unaffected. There will be no further public comment concerning this matter.”
According to Smiley’s profile on LinkedIn, he has served as president and CEO of the organization since January 2018. Before the Porter and Lake County clubs merged, he served as president of the Porter County clubs for more than four years, and previously was director of operations there.
The nonprofit has 10 locations throughout Lake and Porter counties offering youth programs, including a new Valparaiso club at 708 Evans Ave. that opened earlier this year.
alavalley@chicagotribune.com
