Aurora Schools Chief Arrested on Suspicion of DUI
Families with children in Aurora Public Schools should watch for district updates as the superintendent's December court date approaches.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Administration
Live Poll
Do you trust local school leaders to keep their personal conduct above reproach?
Aurora Public Schools Superintendent Michael Giles Jr., 51, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in the early hours of Friday, Oct. 31, after Arapahoe County deputies stopped his vehicle near E-470 and East Quincy Avenue. He appeared in court Monday and is next scheduled to return in December.
Why it matters
The arrest involves the top administrator of a major Aurora school district, which is a matter of public trust for families whose children attend its schools. Because the allegations are unproven and the case is in the early stages of the legal process, the outcome is still open.
Deputies stopped the vehicle just before 1 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 31, after observing it fail to maintain a single lane and drive through a red light. Giles was arrested after a field sobriety test was conducted, and he appeared in court Monday.
The players
Michael Giles Jr.
Superintendent of Aurora Public Schools, the district serving families across Aurora, Colorado, arrested on suspicion of DUI.
Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office
The county law enforcement agency whose deputies stopped the vehicle and made the arrest in Arapahoe County, Colorado.
Benjamin Hartford
Attorney representing Michael Giles Jr., who said neither Giles nor counsel will comment on the specific allegations.
The details
Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office deputies stopped Giles's vehicle near E-470 and East Quincy Avenue after observing it weave out of a single lane and run a red light. A field sobriety test was then administered, and Giles was arrested on suspicion of DUI. His attorney, Benjamin Hartford, said neither Giles nor counsel will comment on the specific allegations or circumstances of the arrest, and Giles intends to address the matter through the appropriate legal process.
Timeline
Friday, Oct. 31, just before 1 a.m.: Giles's vehicle is stopped and he is arrested on suspicion of DUI.
Monday, Nov. 3: The sheriff's office and attorney confirm the arrest, and Giles appears in court.
December: Giles's next scheduled court appearance.
The Home Front
Colorado DUI cases follow a standard court process in which an arrest is followed by arraignment and later hearings, so the December court date is the next procedural step. For Aurora families, the case is a reminder that school district leadership is subject to the same legal process as any other driver.
If you have a child in Aurora Public Schools, check the district's official communications for any changes to leadership or day-to-day operations. Keep track of the December court date if you want to follow how the case develops.
The takeaway
Leadership changes at a school district can affect the schools your children attend, so it helps to know where official district updates are posted. The case is still in its early stages, and no conclusions should be drawn until the legal process has run its course.
What happens next
Giles is next scheduled to return to court in December.
Further reading
For more on how school districts are run, see Administration coverage across the education beat.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
Live Poll
Do you trust local school leaders to keep their personal conduct above reproach?
