YOUR AD HERE »

Still no description of alleged Snowmass rapist

Jason Auslander
The Aspen Times

Five days after a woman reported being raped while walking alone in Snowmass Village, police still don’t have basic information about the incident to release to the public.

That lack of information includes even a rudimentary description of the alleged rapist and whether he knew the victim or not.

“The victim is slow in working with us,” Snowmass Village Police Chief Brian Olson said Monday. “There’s no reason to sound the alarm. My gut tells me this is not a random predator.”



The only public information remains the same information Olson released Thursday afternoon: A woman in her early 20s who lives in Snowmass Village was walking home between 1:30 and 2:05 a.m. Aug. 26 from a friend’s house along Brush Creek Road near Divide Road when a man attacked her from behind.

Olson said the victim has not provided a description of her attacker, and police don’t yet know if the man was an acquaintance or not. He said he doesn’t know when the woman might provide those details or when police might release them to the public.



“I think Snowmass Village is a safe place,” Olson said. “I think the community is safe.”

Asked why he thinks the community is safe if a predator might be in its midst, Olson said, “That’s my gut feeling.” Asked the reason for his gut feeling, Olson said, “That’s all I’ve got.”

Snowmass Village Police do not employ an investigator, and Olson said he’s assigned the rape case to one of his experienced sergeants. He also said he’s discussing the case with an investigator from the District Attorney’s Office, as well as officials from Aspen Police and the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.

Those discussions include a “collaboration on investigative techniques and tactics,” he said.

“We have plenty of staff managing the investigation,” Olson said.

The police chief also said he’s not worried about the safety of the thousands of concert-goers headed for Snowmass Village for next weekend’s finale of the Jazz Aspen Snowmass concert series.

“A lot of activity, a lot of mulling around creates a safer zone than a super quiet night,” he said.

Security will be thick in the village during the three days of concerts, though Olson said, “I always suggest that residents and visitors alike use prudence in their decision-making.”

He said his officers will be extra vigilant about policing the village, and while they won’t hassle anyone, if they see single men walking alone they might check in with them.

jauslander@aspentimes.com


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Glenwood Springs and Garfield County make the Post Independent’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.