Two people arrested after high-speed chase Sunday morning

GILLETTE (WNE) — Two people were arrested after leading deputies on a high-speed chase that started south of Gillette and ended within city limits Sunday morning.

A deputy was patrolling Highway 50 near Clarkelen Road at about 7 a.m. Sunday when he stopped a 2021 Ford Escape because the plates did not match the registration. The driver, a 29-year-old man, and the passenger, a 44-year-old woman, were asked to exit the car.

Instead of getting out of the car, they headed north on Highway 50, reaching speeds of 120 miles an hour, said Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds.

During the pursuit, the 29-year-old drove into oncoming traffic several times, and at one point almost crashed head-on into another vehicle on Highway 50 near Moon Dancer Street, Reynolds said.

As they were pursuing, deputies could see bags of suspected drugs being thrown out of the driver’s side and passenger side windows. Reynolds declined to comment on which drugs or quantities were found, citing an ongoing investigation by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.

The pursuit continued in town, including on Garner Lake Road, Shoshone Avenue, 4J Road and Burma Avenue. The 29-year-old was driving between 60 and 80 mph in town, Reynolds said.

He finally stopped on Pathfinder Circle and fled on foot toward Cherry Lane. He was caught and arrested for eluding, interference, reckless driving, no registration, speeding and littering. His passenger was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver.

Additional charges are pending, Reynolds said.

This story was published on Nov. 21, 2022.