A former DEA task force member, who has testified against two Pitkin County Sheriffs for their involvement in an alleged Aspen-based drug ring, is facing DUI charges made against him by the Garfield County Sheriff’s Department, as reported by The Aspen Times.
Just outside of Silt on Highway 6, P.P., 38, was arrested in the early morning hours of January 15 for misdemeanor charges of DUI, prohibited use of weapons, having an open container and failure to stay in one lane.
The arrest is posted on the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office website and reads, “Deputies contacted a vehicle outside the city of Silt for failing to drive in a single (lane). The driver was subsequently released to a sober party and issued a summons for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and other charges.”
According to court documents, P.P. refused to submit to a roadside sobriety test. He was noted for alcohol odors on his breath, glassy eyes, slurred speech and being unsteady on his feet.
A blood-alcohol test was performed, the results were not released in his case file.
Reporters, denied the entire police report, were told by the office’s records supervisor, “We do not want to compromise the investigation the District Attorney might have currently going on.”
The lead prosecutor in the case, Pitkin County-based Deputy District Attorney Richard Nedlin, also said that he would not release the full report.
P.P. is due in the Pitkin County Court on April 17.
There is alleged tension between the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA due to the drug ring arrests. The DEA, claiming that there were “close ties” between the two sheriffs and the suspects, declined to inform the Sheriff’s Office of its investigation.
According to Police Chief T.W., P.P. resigned from his job – he was a full-time officer with the Glenwood Springs Police Department. P.P. also no longer works with the DEA.
Attorney Lawson Wills, representing P.P., said that the case is a “highly sensitive matter” and that he “can't answer any questions right now.”
In June of 2011 P.P. had testified in Denver federal court against both the current and former Pitkin County Sheriffs. P.P. said that he supported evidence that showed a personal connection between the two sheriffs and the drug trafficking suspect – the two had allegedly attended a birthday party for the suspect.
P.P. testified that the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, “frowns upon any undercover work in their county. They do not allow DEA…to perform any kind of undercover work. It's just been known, for I would say decades,…would turn the other way when…confronted...”
In the last few months FBI have questioned Pitkin County residents about conduct at the Sheriff’s Office. Due to a possible conflict of interest, P.P.’s case has been moved to Pitkin County Court instead of Garfield County.
Charges of DUI, DWI, OUI or OWI are best handled by an attorney that is experienced and qualified in working with DUIs. Contact a DUI attorney to best suit your needs right away!