On the record

On the Record policy

It is the Thermopolis Independent Record’s policy that all people arrested or cited under the “Accidents,” “Sheriff’s office” or “Police department” in the On the Record section are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. We print the names of all people upon their initial arrest.

Sheriff’s office

Tuesday, May 12

11:58 a.m. Report of items in a backpack being stolen out of a parked vehicle. The owner believes the vehicle’s doors were all locked. Deputy was given a description of all items in the backpack. There are no leads and no apparent forced entry.

Wednesday, May 13

8:57 a.m. Request from a citizen who had a civil matter and was advised how to take care of the issue.

11:10 a.m. Request from a business to have a person trespassed from the property. 

4:07 p.m. A business employee reported they had received threatening messages from a subject. Deputy made contact with the person and made it known the messages were not acceptable.

Thursday, May 14

6:30 a.m. A property owner saw a vehicle parked in an unusual place on their private property. The deputy located the vehicle and found a family who was lost and was waiting for the daylight to figure out where to go.

10:47 a.m. A subject reported damaged at the boat dock at the Wedding of the Waters. The driver of a vehicle pulled out and hit another vehicle. They didn’t realize they hit the vehicle so they did not stop.

The deputy caught up to the driver and found it was not intentional.

The driver went back and got insurance information. There was not much damage as there was no accident report filed.

12:06 p.m. Report from a business that a customer had punched a hole through a fence. The person was located and admitted to the damage. The subject was cited for vandalism and destruction of property.

1:40 p.m. An agency assist with the Department of Family Services to help conduct a urinalysis on a subject.

Friday, May 15

2:01 a.m. A noise complaint where someone in an apartment complex was hammering or pounding. The subject was contacted by the deputy and asked to quit.

9:46 p.m. Report of mailboxes west of town being damaged. The crime is under investigation.

1:32 p.m. Report of a potential drunk driver. The vehicle described was located and the driver did not display any impairment, but the driver was cited for speeding.

3:01 p.m. Report of additional mailboxes west of town being damaged.

3:42 p.m. A request to settle a dispute over furniture. Deputy advised it was a civil matter and gave directions on what to do.

4:30 p.m. Report of a vehicle being driven erratically on the highway in Wind River Canyon. The vehicle was located by the deputy and the driver was not found to be impaired. The deputy explained why the driver was stopped and was asked to pay closer attention to driving habits.

Sunday, May 17

1:38 a.m. Employee at a business south of town reported several people refusing to leave the business. Deputy responded to the business and asked the people to leave. The subjects were checked for wants or warrants and then they left.  

4:22 p.m. A deputy noticed an abandoned vehicle on a dead-end road. It had flat tires and cosmetic damage but had not been reported as stolen. It was tagged as abandoned. The owner had 24 hours to pick up the vehicle or it will be towed.

10:03 p.m. Person reported hearing a possible gunshot in the Kirby area.

Police Department

Monday, May 11

1:41 a.m. Officer assisted with the transport of a subject by ambulance to the hospital.

3:56 a.m. Jimmy Earl Barnes, 44, was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear in court.

6:01 a.m. An ID card was found sent back to the owner.

12:38 p.m. Report of a prank phone call to a grandmother.

1:18 p.m. Officer assisted with the transport of a subject by ambulance to the hospital.

1:27 p.m. A subject had a “No Solicitors” posted on the door on their house. Someone left a flyer on the door anyway. The officer contacted the flyer people and told them not to put one there.

7:32 p.m. A subject reported that someone tried to open the door to their house while it was locked. The  officer arrived no one was located.

Tuesday, May 12

11:36 a.m. While performing extra patrol at a vacant residence, an officer discovered the front door to the house was open. The officer did a search of the house and found everything was fine.

2:52 p.m. Report of a subject using a metal detector on private property was advised to get permission from the property owner before searching any further.

10:45 p.m. Report of a potential drunk driver. Officer was unable to locate the described vehicle.

10:57 p.m. Report of a potential drunk driver. The vehicle was located but there was no probable cause to pull over the driver.

Wednesday, May 13

6:18 a.m. Report of people that were sleeping in a vehicle parked in the buffalo pasture. They were told to move on.

8:08 a.m. Report of a subject that was having problems with management at a local business. Officer assisted and they resolved the issue.

11:37 a.m. Officer assisted the Department of Family Services to retrieve property from one of their clients

2:22 p.m. Justin Travis Zimmerman, 37, of Wisconsin, was arrested for the alleged use of a controlled substance, meth and Adderall, and for interference with a police officer.

Thursday, May 14

1:52 p.m. Starlynn Marie Andrews, 41, was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear at court.

James Ray Andrews, 34, was arrested on another agency’s warrant.

Friday, May 15

3:35 p.m. Report of a couple parting ways and having a dispute over property. It was not a physical dispute and it was resolved.

6:54 p.m. A subject felt like someone was impersonating an officer on Facebook.

Saturday, May 16

12:05 a.m. Individuals were upset about where a vehicle was parked. It had flat tires. The tires were aired up and the vehicle was removed.

10:55 a.m. Report of a subject trying to pass a counterfeit $100 bill. The department advised other towns in the area to be aware.

2:28 p.m. Report of a father and son dispute that was resolved.

4:39 p.m. A vehicle was damaged while parked in a parking lot. No suspect was located.

7:19 p.m. Report of a potential drunk driver. The driver was located and was determined to not be impaired.

8:49 p.m. Report of a citizen dispute. The officer arrived in the area and no one was located.

11:09 p.m. Jimmy Earl Barnes, 44, was arrested for the alleged use of meth and Adderall, and possession of meth.

Sunday, May 17

6:05 p.m. Report of a damaged mailbox. This is under investigation.

Monday, May 18

4 a.m. Gregory Ben Lea, 33, was arrested for alleged simple assault, interference of a police officer and possession of marijuana.

Note: There were a number of calls during this week’s reporting time frame that involved juveniles. Law enforcement officials declined to give any details on those calls.

Circuit Court

Jimmy E. Barnes, Jr., use of a controlled substance - schedule I, II or III, 30 days jail, 29 days suspended, 6 months supervised probation, fees and fines $255.

Sean Gilcrist, driving license is canceled, suspended, or revoked if not suspended for 31-5-229 or 31-5-233, 7 days jail, 6 days suspended, 6 months unsupervised probation, fees, and fines $805.

Keith A. Hall, driving without a valid driver’s license, fees and fines $125.