Wyoming, 1 Million Cocaine bust Suspect escapes Troopers Patrol Car - Steals Wyoming Criminal Investigation's Unmarked
Drug bust leads to theft of DCI car
More than $1 million worth of cocaine was confiscated Tuesday evening.
A man wanted for transporting 25 pounds of cocaine remains at large today
after escaping from a Wyoming Highway Trooper patrol car and stealing a Wyoming
Department of Criminal Investigation agent's unmarked vehicle during a criminal
interdiction stop.
The incident began Tuesday just after 11 p.m. when a Trooper made a traffic stop
on a 2000 Volkswagen Beetle eastbound on Interstate 80 about 39 miles east of
Rock Springs for a speeding violation.
The driver of the Beetle could not produce a valid driver's license or a valid
form of identification. Both the driver and a female passenger were detained and
a search of the vehicle was conducted to locate identifications.
During the search of the vehicle, the trooper noticed tool marks on the
dashboard of the vehicle. A compartment under the dash was located and 25 pounds
of cocaine, valued at $1.134 million, were found hidden in the compartment.
Both the driver and the female passenger were then taken into custody. The two
individuals and their vehicle were transported to the WYDOT Highway Shop
facility in Rock Springs where a more thorough search of the vehicle could be
performed and the subjects could be interviewed.
The Wyoming Highway Patrol requested assistance from the Wyoming Division of
Criminal Investigation's Southwest Enforcement Team. Troopers and agents with
DCI met at the WYDOT facility in Rock Springs where the Division Patrol Office
is located.
Special Agents attempted to interview the male driver, however, he refused to
provide any additional information as to his identity or the cocaine.
The male subject was handcuffed and placed in the front passenger seat of the
trooper's car parked at the patrol office. The subject was left unattended for a
very short period of time as troopers and agents attempted to interview the
female passenger.
When the trooper returned to his vehicle, he discovered that the male subject
was not in the patrol car.
It is believed the subject slipped his handcuffs to the front and had then
exited the patrol car and stole a DCI agent's unmarked vehicle, parked nearby.
Law enforcement agencies in the area were alerted as were additional troopers.
The DCI vehicle and the subject have not been seen. Anyone who sees the
missing vehicle are advised to call the nearest law enforcement agency or the
Wyoming Highway Patrol at 1-800-442-9090.
The DCI vehicle is described as follows:
*Gold 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix 4-door with Wyoming registration of 23-2793. The
vehicle has tinted windows.
The name of the subject is unknown at this time. He is described as a black
male, 30 to 35 years of age, short black hair and has a scar on his left cheek.
He was last seen wearing jeans, a tank top and blue sweatshirt.
The female subject is currently being held at the Sweetwater County Correctional
Facility and is facing a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance
with intent to deliver.
Troopers and special agents continue to investigate this case and at this time
are working with other law enforcement agencies in an attempt to locate the
missing DCI vehicle and to identify the missing man