GILLETTE, Wyo. — The driver of a stolen vehicle managed to escape law enforcement following a pursuit Nov. 4, Campbell County Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds said this morning.
He said deputies responded to Hank’s Bar and Grill in Wright after learning from Gillette police that a suspect in a stolen vehicle had spent about $36.65 on gas at the adjacent Dino Mart gas station by charging a credit card belonging to the vehicle’s owner, a 52-year-old woman. Dino Mart employees found a receipt for that amount at pump No. 3 at about 10:58 p.m. Nov. 3.
Gillette Deputy Police Chief Brent Wasson said officers responded at 10:29 p.m. Nov. 3 to Old Chicago after the woman said she had parked the vehicle, a 2010 Ford Taurus, in the parking lot, where she had left it running and unlocked. When she returned about five minutes later, the vehicle was gone. The vehicle contained her purse, wallet, driver’s license, bank cards, loaded 9 mm handgun and about $800 in cash. She called back shortly after the original report to tell police about the Wright gas station charge, which was made to her Mastercard.
Converse County deputies tried to stop the vehicle in Douglas at about 12:46 a.m. Nov. 4 but the vehicle led the deputies in a lengthy pursuit during which deputies ended up losing sight of it.
Campbell County deputies are following up with Dino Mart staff to get video footage of the driver to try to identify the individual, according to Reynolds. Gillette police will end up handling the case after Campbell deputies acquire and send them the footage.
