Wyoming sheriff candidate put on administrative leave less than two weeks before election
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JACKSON, Wyo. — A candidate for Teton County Sheriff in Jackson, Wyoming was placed on administrative leave less than two weeks before the election.
Eric Snow, a deputy with the Teton County Sheriff’s Office, was placed on administrative leave Oct. 21, 13 days before the election, according to local outlet, KHOL.
Jackson Hole News and Guide and KHOL report Snow’s last arrest before being placed on administrative leave was a 35-year-old woman from Driggs, Idaho.
Documents obtained by the outlets say the woman was pulled over after Snow allegedly observed her driving 74 mph in a 50 mph zone. Snow reportedly contacted dispatch and was informed the woman was on release orders for a previous DUI in Wyoming.
According to the woman’s release orders, she was forbidden from drinking alcohol or other substances, KHOL reports. After Snow allegedly breathalyzed her and she blew a .202% blood alcohol reading, the woman was placed under arrest.
According to the affidavit obtained by both outlets, however, Snow did not perform a DUI investigation, which would have included field sobriety tests.
KHOL reports that during the woman’s hearing Thursday, Teton County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Mackenzie Cole said “there was certainly a potential DUI,” but “a DUI investigation was not performed.”
Jackson Hole News and Guide reports Snow recently faced scrutiny for a dismissed DUI case where Snow arrested 20-year-old Ethan Howard McIntyre. The case was dismissed two days after McIntyre’s arrest, the outlet reports, and McIntyre voiced his frustrations on social media. The case was referred to the FBI as a potential civil rights case, but the FBI declined the case.
Snow is running as a Republican against current Sheriff Matt Carr, a Democrat.
Some have wondered if Snow’s administrative leave was politically motivated. “Isn’t it interesting that this is all happening 12 days before the election?” Teton County GOP Chair Kat Ruckert told KHOL. KHOL reports that due to the election, Carr was entirely removed from the decision to place Snow on administrative leave.
Both Sheriff Carr and Teton County Sheriff Lt. Mark Priest have declined KHOL’s requests for comment, according to the outlet.
Snow has reportedly declined to comment, but his attorney, Mark Jackowski, told KHOL that Snow’s administrative leave was “unfair, unwarranted and improper.”
The Wyoming Highway Patrol is conducting a personnel review. EastIdahoNews.com reach out for comment and was told the investigation is still underway and is not criminal in nature.