Nantucket Planning Director Arrested On Cape Cod For Drunk Driving
David Creed •
Nantucket Planning Director Leslie Woodson Snell was arrested in Yarmouth last month after crashing into a street sign and allegedly driving the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. According to a police report, officers discovered an open bottle of vodka in the backseat of her car after the crash, along with alcohol nips in her purse, and White Claw Seltzers in the center console and driver's seat door of her vehicle
Snell, who was promoted to planning director by the Planning Board in 2023 and has been with the town’s Planning & Land Use Services Department for 24 years, was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and possessing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. She was arraigned in Barnstable District Court on April 21st and agreed to a plea deal one week later on April 28th to have the drunk driving charge continued without a finding for one year on the condition she forfeit her license for 45 days, complete a driver alcohol education program, and pay $600 in fees.
The Current filed a public records request for the Yarmouth Police Department's arrest report in early May, and received it on Thursday afternoon. The Current reached out to Snell Friday morning seeking comment, but has not received a reply.
According to the report, at 6:59 p.m. on Monday, April 20th, a Yarmouth Police Department officer was approached by a passerby who said there was a car that had crashed into a pole near Transmission Specialists at 188 Route 28, and that there was a female inside the vehicle.
Upon arriving at the scene, Yarmouth police officer Samantha Voltolini said she saw the car had crashed into a street sign facing south and that the vehicle was partially in the parking lot of Transmission Specialists and partially on a dirt mound near the exit. Voltolini observed Snell allegedly in her vehicle attempting to turn it on. When she approached the window and attempted to speak to her, Voltolini observed a White Claw seltzer in the center console, according to the report. Voltolini said it was difficult to communicate with Snell because she had thick, slurred speech and was having difficulty forming full sentences.
“I observed her to have glassy blood shot eyes,” Voltolini said. “I also observed a moderate odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle. I then went over to the driver's side to speak with her. I then observed a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath.”
When Voltolini asked Snell to step out of the vehicle, she observed two more open White Claw cans in the driver’s seat door. When asked if she had been drinking that day, Snell told police she had two drinks at Giardinos (a Yarmouth Restaurant) and had left (an hour ago).
“I attempted to explain to (Snell) that Giardino's was only a short ways away and I was confused about how she ended up in the parking lot of the Transmission Specialists,” Voltolini wrote in the report. “I asked her where she lived. She informed me Nantucket. I asked if she had a place in town she said, ‘yes.’ I asked whereabouts, but she could not inform me. (Snell) named ‘North Troy’ as the location she was attempting to go to. It was difficult to gain information from Woodson due to her speaking incoherently. I asked Woodson if she needed any medical attention, but she refused.”
Snell failed multiple field sobriety tests, according to the report. Voltolini said Snell had trouble understanding the directions, was unbalanced, swaying side to side, and concluded the tests after the second one “for her safety.”
After Snell was informed she would be placed under arrest for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, police went over to her vehicle to retrieve her cell phone and wallet for her. During this time, they observed an open bottle of vodka in the backseat and alcoholic nips in her purse. Snell was then transported to the police station to be booked, afforded all applicable rights, and refused to take a breathalyzer test.