Casper teen faces felony charge after cops say he stole a car and fled police

CASPER (WNE) -  A Casper teen faces a felony charge after authorities say he stole a car and tried to flee police in it after illegally entering a Casper residence in mid-February.

Dion Harris, born 2008, faces charges of theft, eluding, reckless driving and criminal entry, according to documents filed in district court.

Police allege he was one of two individuals involved in entering a Casper woman's garage without permission shortly after 1 a.m. early in the morning of Feb. 16.

That Casper woman reported the duo, who then sped away at what the woman estimated to be 70 mph, according to an affidavit filed with the initial charges.

Officer Tyler Kauffman with Casper Police Department responded to the call and saw the vehicle on Talon Drive, which Kauffman wrote was "obeying all traffic laws at the time."

After Kauffman turned around to get a better look at the vehicle, he noted that it turned onto Wyoming Boulevard and sped up, the filing says.

The vehicle, a gray Acura, didn't stop after Kauffman turned on his patrol lights and continued to speed up, according to the affidavit. Kauffman added that even when traveling at 105 mph, he was still unable to close the gap between himself and the Acura.

The Acura made its way toward Casper Mountain Road, where Kauffman says he lost sight of the car due to the hilly terrain.

Eventually, the vehicle was tracked to a neighborhood in the vicinity of Casper Mountain Drive with no occupants, roughly 29 minutes after the initial complaint was filed.

Kauffman wrote that officers followed footprints in the snow form the vehicle for about an hour until they saw two teens "attempting to avoid being seen by law enforcement and jumping fences into backyards."

Both suspects were apprehended, and Kauffman said officers found out the Acura was reported stolen out of Casper on Feb. 14.

Harris was determined to be the driver despite initially telling officers he wasn't in the car due to his height being much more suitable for the driver's seat height than his "much shorter" alleged accomplice's, the affidavit said.

It added that Harris's companion's footprints matched the size of those found on the passenger's side of the vehicle.

Officers also matched the suspects' clothing to that seen in a home security video provided to officers by a resident in the area.

The woman that reported the speeding vehicle said she didn't immediately notice anything missing from her garage, according to the affidavit.

Harris's accomplice was also under 18 and was not charged with any major offenses.

Harris's theft charge is the only felony he faces. It carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Harris's case was moved to district court after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing, court documents indicate. His next court date has not been set.

This story was published on March 4, 2025.