Nantucket town Planning Director Leslie Snell was arrested on April 20 on charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and possessing an open container of alcohol. The arrest followed a single-vehicle crash where Snell allegedly struck a street sign. Bodycam footage released by the Yarmouth Police Department shows Snell struggling to perform field sobriety tests.
During the traffic stop, Snell told the responding officer that she had consumed "just a couple of drinks" at a local restaurant. A bottle of vodka and a box of White Claws were observed inside her Jeep. According to a police report, the officer noted Snell's eyes were "blood shot" and detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from her breath and vehicle.
Bodycam video depicts Snell appearing to sway and exhibiting unsteadiness while attempting to follow the officer's instructions during the sobriety tests. The officer noted Snell had difficulty providing coherent information about her intended destination, initially stating she was trying to go to "North Troy" and could not specify her location in Nantucket.
Under a plea agreement reached on April 21, the driving under the influence charge was placed on hold for one year without a formal finding. Snell is required to surrender her driver's license for 45 days, complete an alcohol education course, and pay $600 in fines.
In a statement to The Inquirer and Mirror, Snell stated, "I deeply regret the event that occurred off-island on April 20 while I was attending to personal commitments. I accept full responsibility for my actions and the matter has been resolved."