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Deputies rescue unresponsive man in below-zero temps, help Uber that drove on snowmobile path 7 miles and more, according to Summit County Sheriff’s log

The Sheriff's Office also responded to a report of threats made at a children's ice hockey game and an intoxicated woman who injured herself skiing, among other calls

The Summit County Sheriff's Office launched the Justice Files, a weekly roundup of notable calls to service, on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024.
Summit County Sheriff’s Office/Courtesy photo

The Summit County Sheriff’s Office last week helped rescue an unresponsive man from -6 degree weather, received a call about an Uber driver who drove 7 miles up a snowmobile path and responded to threats at a children’s hockey game.

The following incidents occurred between Monday, Jan. 20, and Saturday, Jan. 25, according to the weekly log of notable calls published by the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.

On Monday, Jan. 20, a mother called in a welfare check on her adult son who was living out of his vehicle and driving from Idaho to Florissant, Colorado. She had been unable to contact him for three days, and an Apple Airtag on his vehicle was marking him on Colorado Highway 9 in Summit County. Deputies located the vehicle on the side of the highway with snow pushed up around it by a plow truck. The vehicle was not running and the windows were completely frozen over. Through a small spot on the window with no frost, deputies were able to see the back of a man’s head and that he was shivering. The temperature at the time was negative 6 degrees. Despite moving around a little, the man was not responsive and had frost on his mustache. An emergent EMS response was requested, and deputies attempted to warm the man while they waited for the medical response. The man was transported to St. Anthony Summit Hospital for treatment.



On Tuesday, Jan. 21, deputies received a call from a concerned wife whose husband and friends were out snowmobiling in the Shrine Pass area and were overdue to return home. A deputy was able to make contact with one of the men by phone and learned that they were stuck off the trail near Red Cliff in Eagle County. Eagle County Search and Rescue was notified, but they were unable to contact the men due to poor reception. A bit later, the men contacted deputies again to advise them that they had managed to get out on their own and no longer needed any assistance. A satellite communication device is recommended for backcountry adventures.

Also Tuesday, Summit County Animal Control received an anonymous tip that a local horse stable was leaving its horses without shelter and hay. A welfare check was performed. The horses had shelter, hay and water, and the environment appeared to be clean and safe. Nothing criminal was found.



On Thursday, Jan. 23, a Summit County man reported that he started getting Express Toll tickets linked to license plates from a vehicle he had sold over a year ago to a friend. He was fairly certain his friend had sold the car since and didn’t think the plates were stolen but perhaps had been left in the vehicle when it was sold. A report was taken, and the license plates were entered as lost in the Colorado Crime Information Center.

A Vail Pass maintenance crew advised deputies that an Uber driver had driven 7 miles up Shrine Pass Road, which is a groomed snowmobiling path in the winter, and got stuck. The crew was looking for permission to remove the vehicle with a snowcat and wanted the driver cited. The Uber driver had made it into Eagle County, and the crew was advised on their options on how to handle the situation with the U.S. Forest Service or Eagle County law enforcement.

On Friday, Jan. 24, 14 people in the custody of the Summit County jail took part in the jail’s weekly CrossFit class. Accounting for nearly 50% of the jail population, the Sheriff’s Office says that is the highest level of participation since the program began in 2023.

On Saturday, a woman who got injured while skiing later went to a bar at Copper Mountain and became heavily intoxicated. She was contacted by deputies, and nothing criminal was found. Due to her level of intoxication and the injury she sustained while skiing, an ambulance was called, and she was transported to St. Anthony Summit Hospital. While at the hospital, the Sheriff’s Office woman became aggressive toward staff, spitting on a nurse and kicking a security guard. Deputies responded and arrested her on charges of assault and criminal mischief.

Also Saturday, a Summit County Animal Shelter volunteer encountered a large dog all by himself while out walking a shelter dog. The volunteer was unable to catch the dog, so an animal control officer went out to find him. Eventually, the dog was found, and was willing to take treats but would not let an Animal Control officer slip a lead over his head. He had a license tag, and the owner’s information was retrieved from it. When the Animal Control officer went to the owners home, the front door was open and nobody was home. She was able to get the dog into the home and shut the door. A warning was left on the front door of the dog owner’s home.

Saturday night, deputies received multiple reports that people could see moving lights near the J chute on Mount Victoria near Frisco. The lights were observed and appeared to be night skiers who were moving down the mountain. No signs of distress were observed, and a search team was not sent.

In another incident Saturday, deputies received a report that a man was threatening to beat people up at a children’s pond hockey game in the Keystone area. Two men had gotten into an argument after the referee made a call they disagreed on. The two exchanged obscenities, and then one man threatened to beat the other man and his wife before storming off, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies searched the area for the man but did not find him. The deputies spent time at the game to establish their presence and see if the man returned, but he did not.


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