Ouray County Road and Bridge Superintendent Ty Barger was placed on paid administrative leave Monday following a driving under the influence arrest in Montrose Aug. 14. Crew Chief Don Castle has been designated interim superintendent while the county conducts its own investigation into the report of the DUI, the county announced in a news release. The county will update the community once its investigation is finalized. County Attorney Leo Caselli declined to comment Tuesday, calling it a personnel matter. It’s unclear how long Barger will remain on paid leave.

Barger, 55, declined to comment to the Plaindealer when contacted on Monday.

“I’ll refer to the county,” Barger said. According to the report from the Montrose Police Department, a manager at Applebee’s restaurant called the police at about 8:50 p.m. to report an intoxicated man who left the restaurant and got into his vehicle.

The responding officer found Barger in the Applebee’s parking lot at 1501 Oxbow Drive sitting behind the wheel of his yellow 1985 Chevrolet M1008 with the engine on. When the officer approached, Barger turned off the vehicle and opened the door.

Barger appeared intoxicated with slurred speech and his breath smelling of alcohol, the police report said.

Barger told the officer he had “a couple” drinks, but his wife was coming to pick him up and he was not intending to drive. According to the officer, Barger acknowledged that he knew he could not legally be in control of a vehicle while intoxicated.

Barger refused to submit to alcohol tests and roadside maneuvers, the report said. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI. As part of the booking process into the Montrose County Jail, Barger provided a preliminary breath test that resulted in a blood alcohol level of 0.163 – twice the legal limit for a DUI.

Barger, who was released on a $750 bond, is scheduled to appear in court in Montrose on Sept. 14. He has worked as the road and bridge superintendent since 2021.