Doug DiSabito, the Grand Isle state’s attorney, speaks to reporters after a judge declared a mistrial in a case DiSabito was prosecuting. File photo by Shaun Robinson/VTDigger Grand Isle County State’s Attorney Douglas DiSabito told police he had taken two prescribed Xanax pills before drivi ng to a St. Albans courthouse where he was arrested last month on a drunken driving charge, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by VTDigger this week. DiSabito, 57, was arrested April 14, and taken to the St. Albans Police Department, where he blew a blood alcohol concentration of 0.084, according to documents filed in Franklin County Superior Court this week, just above the 0.08 legal limit. He was released that evening. The affidavit provides the first detailed account of what police say they observed that afternoon. DiSabito arrived at the Franklin County Superior Court having driven from his father’s nursing home at 1:30 p.m. According to statements given to police by Heidi Tessier, a court employee at the desk by the entrance of the building, DiSabito was unusually cheerful and giddy, and his breath smelled of alcohol.  Samantha Trayah, a court employee who witnessed DiSabito pull into the courthouse parking lot, said in a statement to police that DiSabito pulled in “rather quickly,” honking his horn and saying, “I just had to do it”, as he got out of the car. In the statement, Trayah called that behavior “out of the ordinary, not normal for him at all.” After DiSabito arrived, court employees alerted Capt. Chad Miles of the Franklin County Sheriff’s office of DiSabito’s possible intoxication. Miles then confronted DiSabito, suggesting that he had driven to the courthouse under the influence, to which DiSabito said, “You can’t put me behind the wheel,” the affidavit states. Miles noted that DiSabito seemed confused and smelled of alcohol.  After receiving a call about the incident, Goldman arrived at the courthouse, noting that DiSabito showed signs of impairment, including bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, when he approached DiSabito, the affidavit said.  Goldman administered a field sobriety test, which DiSabito failed, losing his balance during the walking and one-leg stand. DiSabito stated to Goldman he was not on any prescription medications.   Goldman took DiSabito into custody, and after voluntarily waiving his Miranda rights, DiSabito agreed to the Breathalyzer test, according to the court documents. DiSabito then stated that he was taking prescribed Xanax for stress and had taken the medication before getting behind the wheel earlier in the day.  The prosecutor from Alburgh was first elected to office in 2014 and has won re-election without facing challengers in every election since then, according to the Vermont Secretary of State’s website. Last month DiSabito said he would seek both Democratic and Republican nominations, according to WCAX. DiSabito and his attorney could not be reached for comment. Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George, who will handle the case, said she does not comment on cases prior to arraignment. DiSabito’s DUI citation comes two years after Addison County State’s Attorney Eva Vekos was cited for similar charges. Vekos pleaded no contest to the DUI in December, and the Vermont Supreme Court temporarily suspended Vekos’ law license just days before DiSabito’s citation, pending disciplinary proceedings.  DiSabito is scheduled to be arraigned May 12 in Chittenden County Superior criminal court. Read the story on VTDigger here: New court records reveal details of Grand Isle prosecutor’s DUI arrest. ...read more read less