CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A 39-year-old man is facing multiple felony drug and traffic misdemeanor charges after leading the Wyoming Highway Patrol on a 40-mile chase that reached 136 mph on Interstate 25 and Highway 85 near Cheyenne on Wednesday.
Billy Joe Oliver is charged with felony counts of possession of a controlled substance and intent to deliver, as well as misdemeanor counts of fleeing or attempting to elude, reckless driving, speeding, no vehicle registration and no proof of insurance.
The arresting trooper was on routine patrol near mile marker 12.5 on Interstate 25 at around 5:45 a.m. when a motorcycle was spotted traveling north in excess of the 65 mph posted speed limit, a booking sheet states. The trooper’s radar showed the motorcycle traveling at 100 mph.
The trooper attempted to catch up, but the driver, later identified as Oliver, sped up to 120 mph, the document states. Oliver eventually merged onto Highway 85, continuing north and crossing the center line several times to pass vehicles. It was at this point in the chase the trooper noted the motorcycle was traveling at 136 mph.
Oliver stopped and pulled the motorcycle to the shoulder of the road near mile marker 22. The trooper used a loudspeaker to order Oliver to shut off the motorcycle, but Oliver took off again northward on Highway 85, the trooper reported.
At mile marker 45, Oliver reportedly drove north in the southbound traffic lanes for about three-quarters of a mile at about 120 mph.
He slowed to about 20 mph at mile marker 56, then intentionally steered into the ditch. He laid the motorcycle down and took off on foot to the east, the booking sheet states. The trooper reportedly pulled their weapon and ordered Oliver to stop, but Oliver ignored the command. After crossing another barbed wire fence, Oliver told the trooper not to come any closer, the trooper reported.
“Due to low ambient light, I could not tell if he had anything in his hands,” the report states. “I continued to point my pistol at him and issued commands for him to stop. Again, he disregarded my commands and started walking northeast.”
Oliver eventually stopped and asked the trooper if he could smoke a cigarette. The trooper allowed him to do so while continuing to point the pistol at him, according to the report.
Two other troopers arrived and Oliver was taken into custody. The troopers learned there was a nationwide extraditable warrant from Colorado for Oliver for manufacture/distribution/sale of controlled substances and aggravated motor vehicle theft. Oliver was also listed as being on probation in Colorado.
Searching Oliver’s backpack and motorcycle, the trooper reportedly found 83 grams of suspected methamphetamine, a large volume of plastic baggies and a digital scale with suspected methamphetamine residue. Syringes also were found.
Oliver was taken to the Laramie County Detention Center.
