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Alleged Aspen chairlift pusher arrested

Posted at 9:51 AM, Feb 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-12 11:51:13-05

A man accused of pushing a snowboarder off an Aspen chairlift has been publicly identified and arrested nearly a month later.

Thirty-one-year-old Thomas Proesel appeared in court Thursday after being treated at a psychiatric hospital in Grand Junction. He was released on $10,000 bond and allowed to go to a psychiatric treatment facility in Tennessee accompanied by his father and uncle.

His lawyer, prominent Denver defense attorney Pamela Mackey, said the facility will notify her if he leaves. She promised to provide the court updates on his treatment.

Police say Proesel pushed Seth Beckton on Jan. 17, causing him to fall about 25 feet into deep snow.

He's charged with felony assault and misdemeanor reckless endangerment, according to court documents.

Authorities identified him early on but The Aspen Times reports they couldn't release his name while he was being treated at the hospital.