Seattle principal arrested for DUI, reckless endangerment, domestic violence

According to court documents obtained by The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, the woman told police that she refused to press charges against Chief Sealth International High School principal Ray Garcia-Morales because she is afraid of him. No charges were filed against Garcia-Morales and he was released from custody. However, Seattle Public Schools has placed Garcia-Morales on administrative leave until further notice.

Court documents state that early Sunday morning, Seattle police arrived at the scene of an overturned Toyota Highlander with “Suspect 1” standing next to it with bloodshot eyes. Garcia-Morales was later identified as the suspect described in the report. He originally denied anyone else was in the vehicle and denied drinking alcohol, but when officers told the suspect that 911 callers had reported a woman running away from the vehicle after the rollover, he again denied anyone else was in the SUV.

However, police noticed that the suspect was large and the driver’s seat was pushed very far forward, so much so that he would not have been able to fit in it. Additionally, the vehicle was not registered to the suspect. Because officers believed he wasn’t driving the vehicle when it flipped, he was released.

Two SPD officers went to the home of the woman who was listed as the registered owner and she told them that she was at a party when the suspect began to fall asleep. When she suggested they leave, he reportedly called her a b*tch. The pair did leave the party with the suspect driving. However, she recorded the suspect driving “because she was afraid of him.” According to the report, they switched seats before getting on the freeway.

According to the court documents, the suspect grabbed and pulled the steering wheel, causing the SUV to flip. After the crash, the suspect opened the passenger’s door and asked the victim “Do you wanna die?” She told police that she was afraid of the suspect and ran from the crash site.

The victim told police that the suspect had been verbally abusive before and had abused the family dog. She also claimed there had been prior incidents. The victim’s daughter told police that the suspect had been verbally abusive and officers took pictures of the victim’s bruised left arm and swollen face. Shortly thereafter, King County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested the suspect at his brother’s house for driving under the influence, domestic violence, and reckless endangerment.

The case is still under review but no charges have been filed, partially because the victim is refusing to move forward with the case due to her fear of Garcia-Morales.

Seattle Public Schools sent the following letter to students and teachers following the incident: "We are writing to share some important personnel information with you. At approximately 3 a.m. Sunday, Principal Ray Garcia-Morales was arrested by the Seattle Police Department for driving under the influence and reckless endangerment. He was immediately placed on administrative leave until further notice."

"According to court records, no charges were filed, and the case has been closed. As this is a personnel issue, further details are confidential to protect privacy rights. Assistant Principal Hope Perry will be stepping in to serve in his absence. Please feel free to reach out to her with school-related questions. As other questions arise concerning this sensitive matter, please send them to publicaffairs@seattleschools.org."

Garcia-Morales was featured in the news last year after claiming he was “looking into” “content” that was taught by now-suspended anti-cop teacher Ian Golash, who hung posters of terrorists in the school, claimed that “Hamas didn't behead anyone. Hamas didn't rape anyone,” on October 7, 2023, and failed a student who said that only women can conceive a child and that only men have penises. Golash also has a criminal record including multiple arrests in Oregon, including for assault, violating parole, and criminal harassment.