Mancos Marshal John Cox was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of drunken driving, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
Cox was involved in a single-vehicle crash about 11:10 p.m. on U.S. Highway 160 near Cherry Creek subdivision and the La Plata-Montezuma county line, said Capt. Adrian Driscoll with the Colorado State Patrol in Durango.
Cox was off-duty at the time and driving his private vehicle, a full-size white Ford pickup, Driscoll said. Cox was the only occupant and remained at the scene of the crash.
“It looks like he hit some ice and ran into a guard rail,” Driscoll said. “During the investigation, it was determined Marshal Cox was under the influence of alcohol, and he was placed into protective custody.”
Cox was taken to the Durango Police Department for a breath test. He was then charged with drunken driving, careless driving and no proof of insurance, Driscoll said. He was released into the custody of a sober person.
Driscoll declined to release the marshal’s blood-alcohol level until the investigation is complete and the case has been reviewed by the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
The Mancos Town Board placed Cox on paid administrative leave Nov. 4 for an undisclosed personnel matter.
Town Administrator Andrea Phillips declined to provide specifics about the personnel matter that led to the decision, but she said the town will be adequately covered from a public safety standpoint in the interim.
The town’s two deputy marshals, Yvonne McClellan and Jason Spruell, are now reporting to Phillips, Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office is providing backup coverage and all of Cox’s equipment has been collected to ensure he is not acting as an officer.
Cox was hired as a deputy marshal in August 2012 and promoted in April 2013 after former Marshal Bill Knauer took a police chief job in Indiana.
In Cox’s personnel records obtained by The Journal, Cox received glowing remarks on his most recent annual review, conducted in August. Given a 9.2 out of 10 by Phillips, Cox was described as “respectful, courteous and professional.”
“He presents a positive image to the general public. He would like to be faster in his response time when dealing with citizen complaints. He has a good relationship with businesses, the board, staff and the school,” Phillips wrote.
Mancos Town Board of Trustees and Phillips released a collective statement on Cox’s most recent charges: “We are saddened to hear the news of this incident with Marshal Cox. He was placed on administrative leave last Thursday for a personnel matter.”
The board plans to discuss the situation at 7 p.m. Monday at a special meeting, the statement reads.
shane@durangoherald.com
