GILLETTE, Wyo. — Here is a summary of notable crimes that occurred in and around Gillette yesterday, obtained through law enforcement reports compiled by the Gillette Police Department and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office.
Vehicle theft, May 13, East Walnut Street, GPD
Officers responded to East Walnut Street at 7:08 a.m. after a 35-year-old woman called to report her 2007 Jeep Cherokee stolen, Gillette Deputy Police Chief Brent Wasson said. The woman said she last saw her vehicle at 6:15 p.m. the previous day and left the car unlocked with the keys in the ignition. The investigation is ongoing.
Fraud, May 13, West Boxelder Road, CCSO
A 72-year-old woman visited the sheriff’s office to report falling victim to suspected fraud around 9:23 a.m., Undersheriff Quentin Reynolds said. The woman said she received a bill from a communications company in St. Paul, Minnesota, stating she owed $724.71. She also learned a collection account had been opened for her attempting to secure $563. The woman said the communications company account was not hers, and the investigation is ongoing.
Fraud, May 13, Watsabaugh Drive, GPD
A 74-year-old woman called the police around 9:30 p.m. after she received a fictitious invoice from the “Campbell County Public Liens Department,” Wasson said. The invoice claimed she owed over $76,000, but it was identified as fake after the woman went to the Campbell County courthouse to verify its authenticity. As of May 14, the woman has not experienced any monetary loss.
DWUI, May 13, Moonshiner Lane, GPD
Officers responded to an employment testing center on South Douglas Highway at 1:30 p.m. after staff called to report a man provided a breath sample indicating he was intoxicated before leaving in a 2023 GMC pickup, Wasson said. The GMC was located and stopped on Moonshiner Lane. The man displayed signs of intoxication and was arrested after failing field sobriety tests. A search incident to the man’s arrest yielded a bottle of vodka, and he was also charged with having an open container.
Crash, May 13, Gurley Avenue, GPD
Officers were dispatched to the intersection of 7th Street and Gurley Avenue for a reported motorcycle crash involving a 37-year-old man astride a 1997 Harley-Davidson around 1:34 p.m., Wasson said. The man reportedly attempted to turn north onto Gurley Avenue from 7th Street but took the turn too wide and hopped the curb. The man lost control of the motorcycle and crashed, resulting in under $1,000 in damage to the motorcycle and a shoulder injury. The man was transported to the hospital for his injury, and no citations were issued.
Fraud, May 13, Olive Street, GPD
A 76-year-old woman called the police at 6:36 p.m. after reportedly falling victim to a fraud investigation scam, Wasson said. The woman reportedly got a call from a person claiming he was a fraud investigator who needed her to purchase gift cards and provide their codes to him. The woman purchased 27 cards from various businesses and provided the codes as requested after loading the cards with $15,000 total. The investigation is ongoing.
Agency assist, May 13, Lakeside Drive, GPD
Officers responded to the area of Lakeside Drive and Brooks Avenue at the request of the Wyoming Highway Patrol to assist a trooper with an alcohol investigation around 10:41 p.m., Wasson said. When they arrived, an 18-year-old man began to struggle and was taken into custody after he was exposed to pepper spray. The man was taken to the hospital for decontamination before being transferred to the Campbell County Detention Center.
Suspicious activity, May 14, South Garner Lake Road/Elon Avenue, GPD
An 18-year-old woman called the police at 12:25 a.m. to report seeing an 18-year-old man drive by while holding a rifle outside a vehicle window on South Garner Lake Road, Wasson said. The rifle wasn’t pointed at anything in particular, though the woman said a 19-year-old man got a text from the older man telling him he would hear gunshots. Officers then received a 911 call advising of possible gunshots in the area of Elon Avenue and 12th Street. When they arrived, the officers located three 9mm shell casings behind an apartment complex. As of May 14, neither the 18-year-old nor the 19-year-old man have been located, and the investigation is ongoing.
Through C17 Crime Clips, County 17 strives to provide our readers with the most detailed and comprehensive list of law enforcement interactions with the citizens of Gillette and Campbell County; however, some information will be withheld to protect the victims’ identities and to avoid compromising ongoing criminal investigations.