Golden – Beer magnate Pete Coors did not receive special treatment when he was released to a sober driver instead of going to jail when he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving two months ago.
The Colorado police handbook and guidelines state the arresting officer may release a person accused of a misdemeanor petty offense if the officer is satisfied the person will obey a court summons.
“For your everyday DUI that is cooperative and there are no other (major) charges, you get him processed and call a responsible party,” said Lakewood police spokesman Steve Davis. “Most jails won’t keep a DUI anymore.”
Coors was arrested at 11:53 p.m. May 28 when a State Patrol trooper saw his 2004 Jaguar roll through a stop sign at McIntyre Street and West 32nd Avenue, one block from Coors’ home.
State Patrol spokesman Gilbert Mares said that when Coors stopped in his driveway, the trooper smelled alcohol and administered a field sobriety test, which Coors failed.
The trooper took Coors in handcuffs to the Golden Police Department for a breath test conducted at 12:40 a.m. May 29.
The test showed Coors had a blood-alcohol level of 0.088, which is above the 0.08 DUI limit in Colorado.
Mares said it was the officer’s discretion to go to Golden.
It is common practice – up to a dozen times a month – for state troopers to process DUI suspects at the Golden Police Department instead of at the Jefferson County Jail, said Golden Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick.
“We have an arrangement with State Patrol for them to do the tests here, which are done out of convenience, or sometimes the jail machine is tied up,” Kilpatrick said.
The only deviation from what most police agencies do in such cases is that Coors was not fingerprinted or photographed.
Kilpatrick said troopers do not have access to Golden’s computer system for taking photos or fingerprints.
Standard procedure will continue when Coors is arraigned Thursday, said Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey. “We will not treat this case any differently because he is Pete Coors.”
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
