Drug busts lead to multiple arrests

A total of five people have been arrested on drug-related felony charges, with one bust believed by Hot Springs County Sergeant Deputy Jeremie Kraushaar to be the biggest in the county for meth.

Kraushaar reported he had received information previously that Tyler Kihlstrom was returning from Utah with a large quantity of methamphetamine. The information was provided to Probation and Parole, which reported Kihlstrom had not appeared for his last scheduled appearance. That, Kraushaar said, provided him the authority to do a traffic stop and search on Kihlstrom’s vehicle on Aug. 1.

Kraushaar also noted Kihlstrom had been cited in Washakie County for use of meth a few days prior.

Prior to the stop, Kraushaar was informed there were secret hiding areas in the vehicle. Upon search of the vehicle, Kraushaar located a substance that appeared to be marijuana behind a vent. He also found a weight he knew is often used to calibrate scales.

A second deputy, Jon Bartlett, was called to the scene to assist in the search, and found pieces of what appeared to be broken glass behind another vent.

Inside an area next to the glove box, Kraushaar said, there was a glasses case located containing seven small bags with a substance that appeared to be meth, a measuring spoon and hypodermic syringes. Reaching further into a cavity under the dash uncovered a large bag with four medium sized baggies, a large amount of suspected meth including a big chunk and a digital scale.

Kihlstrom was arrested, and the suspected substances returned presumptive positive tests for meth and THC. The suspected meth was weighed, with a total weight — including bags — of 87.6 grams. Each baggy, according to an affidavit, weighed about 0.5 grams.

Kihlstrom refused to give a requested urine sample, so a warrant was obtained for a urine analysis on him which tested presumptive positive for amphetamine.

Following Kihlstrom’s arrest, the two deputies were requested by a probation officer to perform a search on Tiphanie Reynolds’ residence, as Reynolds had failed to provide a urine sample at her probation appointment earlier in the day and stormed off. The agent further noted Kihlstrom drove Reynolds to her appointment in the same vehicle where the meth was found.

Deputies went to Reynolds’ residence but she was not there. They were informed she had taken one of her kids to a park, and her vehicle was later located at Hot Springs State Park at the Big Spring turnaround.

The probation agent contacted Reynolds and asked for her phone, which Reynolds gave up. Reynolds was then informed her vehicle would be searched and she asked if she could take her son out first. Kraushaar noted the child was in an unbuckled car seat.

In looking at Reynolds’ phone, the probation agent saw multiple messages from known drug users, using street slang for suspected names of drugs, and Reynolds actively answering.

Under a seat of the vehicle, a digital scale was located. Deputy Bartlett also located two hypodermic syringes in a basket. One was loaded with a liquid that later tested presumptive positive for meth, and it was noted that the syringes were on the floor of the vehicle, about a foot from where the unbuckled child was.

Upon further search of the vehicle, a baggy was located that is exactly like the baggies located in Kihlstrom’s vehicle. A request was made to search Reynolds’ residence, which she refused. After a warrant was obtained, deputies and Thermopolis Police Officer Mark Allen searched the camper, in which was found a single hypodermic syringe and two packs of syringes that were consistent with those found in Kihlstrom’s vehicle. Also found was a container with shards of crystalline substance that tested presumptive positive for meth and a box of baggies that were consistent with those found in Kihlstrom’s vehicle.

As a result of the investigation, Kihlstrom was charged with felony charges of unlawful possession of meth, possession of meth with intent to deliver and conspiracy to deliver meth, and misdemeanors of unlawful possession of marijuana and use or under the influence of a controlled substance. Bond for Kihlstrom was set at $200,000 cash, with a preliminary hearing set for Aug. 10. If found guilty of the charges, he faces a maximum penalty of 48.5 years and fines of about $67,000.

Reynolds was charged with three felony counts of endangering children — exposure to meth — felony unlawful possession of meth and conspiracy to deliver meth, and misdemeanors of unlawful possession of meth and use or under the influence of a controlled substance. Bond has been set at $50,000 cash, with an Aug. 10 preliminary hearing. If found guilty, the maximum penalty would be 43.8 years and fines would be about $57,000.

Charges have also been filed against three subjects in regard to controlled drug buys. Kraushaar said in March the department was able to do a series of controlled buys from multiple people in the county. He noted these buys were possible through combined forces of deputies and police officer Lindsay Pahl

Kevin Tuzicka is charged with felony conspiring to deliver meth and manufacture or delivery of meth or a controlled narcotic substance. According to court documents, the charges stem from a controlled buy during which the buyer obtained a substance which tested presumptive positive for meth from Tuzicka.

Tuzicka’s bond is set at $25,000 cash, and he is scheduled for an Aug. 13 preliminary hearing. If found guilty, the maximum penalty would be 40 years and fines would be $50,000.

Karl Bert David Loos is charged with felony conspiracy to deliver Oxycontin and delivery of Oxycontin. The charges are from another controlled buy. The informant was set up to purchase pills — later identified through the inscriptions on pills as being Oxycontin — from Loos through arrangements made with Trapper Lahoe. Following the buy, the informant informed deputies that Lahoe had driven the vehicle where the buy happened and Loos gave him the pills.

Bond for Loos is $200,000 cash and his preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 10. Maximum penalties would be 40 years and $50,000 in fines.

Lahoe is charged with felony conspiracy to deliver a prescription narcotic, accessory before the fact to deliver meth and delivery of meth. According to court documents, following the controlled buy with Loos, Lahoe contacted an informant and offered meth. A second controlled buy was arranged, during which the informant purchased a crystalline substance that tested presumptive positive for meth from Lahoe.

Bond for Lahoe is $200,000 cash and he is scheduled for an Aug. 10 preliminary hearing. Maximum penalties are 60 years and $75,000 in fines.