A New York City education official has been fired after he was arrested for allegedly trying to arrange sex with an underage boy online.
David Hay, 39, deputy chief of staff to schools Chancellor Richard Carranza, was taken into custody at a Wisconsin airport on Sunday for allegedly using a computer to “facilitate a child sex crime,” police in Neenah, Wisconsin, said in a release.
Hay’s arrest at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee follows a monthslong investigation into his conduct, the New York Post reported, citing sources.
Hay, who has worked for New York City’s Department of Education since 2016 according to his LinkedIn profile, was fired shortly after his arrest, a DOE spokesperson said.
“These allegations are incredibly disturbing and absolutely unacceptable,” said spokesperson Miranda Barbot in an email to HuffPost. “We took immediate action removing Mr. Hay from payroll and are terminating him. We referred this to the Special Commissioner of Investigation and we will fully comply with any investigation.”
Hay is said to have not had regular contact with children in his DOE role.
Hay did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
Prior to his DOE employment, Hay, who grew up in Antigo, Wisconsin, worked as a teacher and a principal at schools outside Milwaukee, according to a profile on him featured on Harvard University’s website. He received his doctorate in education leadership at Harvard in 2017.
This story has been updated following a response from the DOE and police.