A Snowmass Village man with a grievance against the town\u2019s police chief that borders on a vendetta will remain behind bars at the Pitkin County Jail for the time being, a District Judge said Monday.<\/p>\n
District Judge Chris Seldin noted that he was aware of the history between Jeremiah Casper, 42, and Snowmass Village Police Chief Brian Olson, but said that Casper\u2019s latest flurry of emails to the chief contained an increase in rhetoric. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe is now issuing what (a prosecutor believes) to be threats using language involving firearms,\u201d Seldin said. \u201cIt is concerning and a public safety issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Casper\u2019s attorney asked that he be let out on a personal recognizance bond, saying that Olson was a \u201cpublic official\u201d and that the emails were protected by free speech. Prosecutor Don Nottingham, however, said that Olson rightly took the threats seriously \u201cbecause the alternative would be extremely foolish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Casper was released early from prison last month after being found guilty by a jury of theft and burglary, and almost immediately contacted Olson. He sent threatening emails to Olson and other Snowmass Village police officers two years before, as well. <\/p>\n
On Monday, Seldin said Casper previously has expressed anger and outrage toward Olson because the chief applied \u201ca pressure point to Casper\u201d while taking him to jail at one point. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe was very upset about it,\u201d Seldin said. \u201cHe believes Olson essentially engaged in police brutality.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seldin also noted that Casper has shown up drunk to the District Attorney\u2019s Office in the past and acted in a manner that was perceived as threatening. <\/p>\n
Seldin declined to alter the $100,000 bond he originally set for Casper. <\/p>\n
For his part, Casper said he was done sending threatening emails and planned to channel his energies toward filing civil lawsuits. <\/p>\n