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Snowmass councilman nabbed on DUI charge

Rick Carroll
The Aspen Times
Chris Jacobson

Snowmass Village Town Councilman Chris Jacobson was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence early Friday morning, later walking out of jail on a personal recognizance bond.

Wearing shorts and a fleece pullover, a disheveled Jacobson appeared in Pitkin County Court with attorney Arnold Mordkin, a former town councilman himself. Mordkin waived advisement for Jacobson, 50, who was elected to his council seat in 2012.

Pitkin County District Court Judge Gail Nichols allowed Jacobson’s release from jail on a $1,000 bond. Former Snowmass Town Councilman Jason Haber appeared at the hearing to take Jacobson after he processed his paperwork at the jail.



Jacobson’s term has been marked by his outspokenness on town matters, including last year’s allegations that certain council members did ex parte communication with Aspen Skiing Co. over Base Village development.

Jacobson was arrested shortly after midnight when Snowmass police responded to a report of a drunken driver on Brush Creek Road. One Snowmass officer said he saw Jacobson swerving a 2012 Subaru into the opposite lane of traffic, according to an arrest affidavit written by Pitkin County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Kasper.




“Although our officer did make the stop, they did hand it over to the Sheriff’s Office in consideration of how it may appear,” said Travis Elliot, assistant town manager for Snowmass.

Kasper arrived to take over the investigation. Jacobson’s eyes were bloodshot and watery and he had alcohol on his breath, the affidavit says. When Kasper asked Jacobson how much alcohol he had consumed that night, Jacobson refused to provide an answer, the affidavit said.

“Jacobson was extremely unstable in his exit of the vehicle,” the affidavit said. “Jacobson had to use his left hand and arm to catch himself from falling into the vehicle as he stood up and walked toward me.”

Jacobson performed voluntary roadside exams and appeared to have issues, the affidavit suggests.

When Kasper asked him to raise one leg off the ground, “after approximately 2 seconds, Jacobson lost his balance and nearly fell over and had to catch himself from falling into his vehicle,” the affidavit says.

After that, Kasper began to place him under arrest for DUI.

“I asked Jacobson to turn around and place his hands behind his back,” Kasper wrote in the affidavit. “Jacobson looked at me with a blank stare. Jacobson said, ‘Is this a joke?’ I replied that it wasn’t a joke.”

Later, Kasper read the Colorado Express Consent Law — which requires motorists to allow a breath or blood test — to Jacobson. Asked if he understood, Jacobson said, “Fine. F— you!” Kasper wrote. Jacobson declined to consent to either test, the affidavit said.

While being transported to Pitkin County Jail, Jacobson “cursed obscenities at me calling me a ‘f—ing c–t’ several times,” Kasper wrote.

Jacobson is due back in court July 28. Conditions of his bond require him not to consume alcohol or illegal drugs while the case is pending and he must participate in a program that monitors his system for mind-altering substances.

rcarroll@aspentimes.com