Maine East assistant principal to work from home after arrest

A Maine East assistant principal will work from home when school starts Monday after he was arrested and charged with public indecency Monday night in a lakefront park on Chicago's North Side, school officials said Tuesday.

Michael Pressler, 48, of the 1700 block of North Halsted Street, was arrested without incident about 5:45 p.m. at the park on North Simonds Drive, police said. Pressler is an assistant principal at the Park Ridge high school.

Darren Stephens, 45, of the 1400 block of West Leland Avenue in Chicago was arrested also.

Pressler is expected to work from home until the school board has had a chance to review the matter, said Dave Beery, Maine Township 207's public information officer.

There are no plans now to discuss it before the board's Monday, Jan. 12, meeting, Beery said. But the board is likely to broach the matter in closed session at the meeting, he said.

Police had previously said - and multiple news agencies reported - that Stephens was an actor with the Blue Man Group. However, a spokesman for the group said Tuesday the man has never been associated with the dramatic troupe.

Both men were charged with the misdemeanor while on Chicago Park District property, police said. Both are slated to appear in court on Feb. 6.