Secret Service quiet about man arrested near Cheney

BEAVER CREEK - The U.S. Secret Service is offering no details about the arrest of Steven Howards, who they allege acted strangely around Vice President Dick Cheney on Friday during an economic summit in Beaver Creek.

"His behavior and demeanor wasn't quite right," Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren said on Friday. "The agents tried to question him, and he was argumentative and combative."

On Monday, another spokesman for the Secret Service refused to say what "wasn't quite right" about Howards' demeanor and whether federal charges were brought against Howards.

"No further comment," said the spokesman, Jonathan Cherry.

Although the Secret Service would not confirm the man's name, the Eagle County Sheriff's Office identified the man as Steven Howards.

Little information is available about Howards, including where he lives and his age.

An article from the Airport Revenue News on the Clean Airport Partnership's Web site (www.cleanairports.com) includes a photo of Steven Howards. That photo matches a separate photo of Howards provided by the Eagle County Sheriff's Office.

According to a biography about Howards on the Website, he founded the Clean Airport Partnership, a nonprofit group based in Lakewood, Colo. devoted to improving environmental quality and energy efficiency at airports. Howards also serves as executive director of the nonprofit.

Two phone messages left for Howards at the Clean Airport Partnership were not returned Monday afternoon.



Staff Writer J.K. Perry can be reached at 748-2928 or jkperry@vaildaily.com.



Vail, Colorado