Newly released police video captures the arrest of a Nantucket town official who authorities say was driving under the influence after allegedly crashing into a street sign with alcohol inside her vehicle.
Body camera footage from the Yarmouth Police Department shows Leslie Snell, the Planning Director for Nantucket, Massachusetts, appearing to have difficulty as officers asked her to complete field sobriety tests. Police were called to the April 20 crash after Snell allegedly struck a street sign, according to the Nantucket Current.
As she stepped out of the Jeep she had been driving, Snell told an officer she had consumed “Just a couple of drinks” at Giardinos, a local restaurant, the bodycam footage shows.
Bodycam footage shows Leslie Snell sitting in her Jeep with the driver’s door open while a Yarmouth police officer speaks with her during the April 20 traffic stop (Yarmouth Police Department)
The video also appears to show a bottle of vodka and a box of White Claw hard seltzers inside the vehicle.
According to a police report, Snell was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and possessing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Snell entered into a plea agreement on April 21 that continued the OUI charge for one year without a formal finding. As part of the agreement, she is required to give up her driver’s license for 45 days, complete an alcohol education program and pay $600 in fines.
In the police report, Yarmouth Officer Samantha Voltolini noted that Snell’s eyes appeared “blood shot.”
Leslie Snell stands near her vehicle as a Yarmouth police officer looks on during the DUI stop that followed her alleged crash into a street sign. (Yarmouth Police Department)
“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.”
Voltolini could be heard saying that Giardinos was only around 100 yards away.
“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.”
Bodycam footage timestamped April 20, 2026, shows Snell speaking with a Yarmouth police officer dring the field sobriety stop. (Yarmouth Police Department)
During the field sobriety tests, according to the report and body camera video, Voltolini swayed from side to side and was unbalanced.
In a comment to The Inquirer and Mirror after being arrested, Snell said, “I deeply regret the event that occurred off-island on April 20 while I was attending to personal commitments. I accept full responsibility for my actions and the matter has been resolved.”
INC News reached out to Snell for comment.
