Education boss arrested 'for defecating on school playing fields every day'

Staff and coaches 'were finding human faeces on or near the area of the high school track and football field on a daily basis'

Thomas Tramaglini was caught defecating in the grounds of Holmdel High School in New Jersey (Holmdel Township Police)

A US education chief has been charged with repeatedly defecating on a high school football field and running track.

District superintendent Thomas Tramaglini, 42, was identified as the "mystery pooper" of Holmdel, New Jersey, after staff set up surveillance cameras.

He was arrested as he returned to the scene of the crime at Holmdel High School at 5.50am last Monday.

Police officers are believed to have observed him evacuating his bowels before confronting him as he began running at the school track.

Mr Tramaglini, who lives in nearby Matawan, New Jersey, was charged with lewdness, littering and defecating in public.

Holmdel Township Police Department said in a statement that staff and coaches at the school "were finding human faeces on or near the area of the High School track and football field on a daily basis.

"The School Resource officer, along with school staff, monitored the area and was able to identify a subject responsible for the acts."

The police did not give further details on how long the school has suffered from its human excrement problem.

Mr Tramaglini earned $150,000 (£110,000) a year as school superintendent for the Kenilworth Public Schools district, which is around 25 miles from Holmdel and in a different county of New Jersey.

The Kenilworth Board of Education granted his request for a paid leave of absence as a result of the charges.

"The Board of Education wants to assure faculty and staff, students and parents, that the district will continue its responsibilities without interruption," it said in a statement.

"Every day, and especially during challenging times, we are fortunate to have veteran administrators and other dedicated professionals on whom we can rely.

"We will continue to keep the community informed."

The fact Mr Tramaglini has not been convicted of any crime has not stopped him being variously dubbed the "Pooperintendent", the "poopetrator" and the "Mad Crapper" online.

He is due in municipal court in Holmdel next week.