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.

Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department

2023 Officers Elected

Mark Collins, Chief

Bryce Gilbert, Assistant Chief

Dale Andreen, Captain

Jim Andreen, 1st Lieutenant

James Coats, Secretary

Ana Mosser, Treasurer

71 Total Calls for 2022

12 Vehicle Crashes

20 False Alarms

6 Structure

14 Grass

7 Good Intent/Service Calls

4 HazMat/Gas Meters

2 Dumpster

5 Vehicle Fires

1 Powerline

Sheriff’s Office

Monday, Jan. 9

2:09 p.m. Report of a possible drunk driver on Highway 120. The deputy made contact with the driver who was not impaired.

8:10 p.m. Agency assist for ambulance staff with a lift assist for an elderly female who had fallen.

Tuesday, Jan. 10

8:49 a.m. Civil stand-by on Highway 120.

1:41 p.m. Deputies investigated the report of a possible scam. After investigation, it was learned this was a disagreement between a business and a person. Both parties were informed this was a civil dispute.

Wednesday, Jan. 11

4:03 p.m. Deputies responded to a medical alarm. The subject was given a lift assist and refused transport.

4:54 p.m. Deputies responded to a request to look at a vehicle for any suspicious activity. No items were located. 

Thursday, Jan. 12

9:22 a.m. Report of children who were concerned about parents fighting. The children were OK.

6:11 p.m. Deputies assisted a female with obtaining personal identifying documents. 

8:36 p.m. Agency assist for the Police Department.

10:35 p.m. A welfare check was done on an elderly female. The subject was found to be okay.

Saturday, Jan. 14

2:21 p.m. A deputy responded to a possible motorist in distress. The driver was reported to have been using an orange flag. The deputy found ranchers had performed a cattle drive prior to his arrival. 

1:57 p.m. Agency assist for emergency medical services.

Sunday, Jan. 15

5:31 p.m. Agency assist for the Police Department. 

Police Department

Monday, Jan. 9

9:22 a.m. Paul Mathewson, 56,  was arrested on a warrant for a bond violation. The original charge was for possession of methamphetamine.

1:37 p.m. A female requested police assistance regarding a check that she wrote to her friend. The female wanted the money back from her friend. The female was informed this was a civil matter.

1:39 p.m. Report of a juvenile male who will be cited for possession of a controlled substance, marijuana. 

7:29 p.m. A local restaurant reported a male ordered food and left without paying. Police reviewed video footage of the incident. The male was identified as Adam J. Frahm, 34, and was contacted by police. The male was arrested for alleged theft and trespassed from all this company’s businesses. 

11:19 p.m. A resident reported a male acting suspiciously. Upon arrival police made contact with a male sitting in the middle of the snowy ice-packed roadway, while only wearing a pair of shorts. The male expressed feelings of depression and hopelessness and agreed to allow police to escort him to the hospital for help. 

Tuesday, Jan. 10

2:52 p.m. A female contacted police in regards to a vehicle parked in front of her home. Police determined the vehicle was not in violation of any laws. 

3:35 p.m. Police conducted a traffic stop on a 31-year-old male semi-truck driver from Cyprus, Texas, for speeding within a school zone. The male was issued a citation for speeding in a school zone while driving heavy equipment.

Wednesday, Jan. 11

3:32 p.m. A male driver struck a parked vehicle. Police determined icy road conditions were a contributing factor to the crash. No citations were issued. 

4:41 p.m. Report of a dog loose within the 1300 block of Broadway. The dog did not have a collar or leash. The dog was not located by police. 

Thursday, Jan. 12

3:36 p.m. A female reported the theft of $200 and her driver’s license. The reporting party trespassed the alleged suspect, another female, from her property. No further action was taken.

11:13 a.m. A 70-year-old male from Boulder, Colo., was stopped around the area of Highway 20 South for speeding, and running a car off the road. During this stop, the driver was cited for traffic violations and for possession of plant form marijuana. 

6:56 p.m. Forrest F. Kinnaman, 33, was arrested for having an active Hot Springs County arrest warrant. 

8:32 p.m. Officers responded to a verbal domestic matter at a trailer park. It was determined that the argument ensued due to a difference in opinion regarding cleaning standards. The male subject chose to stay in a hotel room for the night.

Friday, Jan. 13

2:48 a.m. Police conducted a traffic stop on Timothy D. Beason, 29, from Cowley, Wyo.,  within the 900 block of Shoshoni Street for illegal lane use. Beason was arrested for alleged possession of a felonious amount of methamphetamine. 

7:45 a.m. Darrick Collins, 19, was arrested in the 400 block of Warren Street during a traffic stop. Collins was cited for alleged driving while his license was suspended, and obstruction of the driver’s view. 

11 p.m. A female who lives in Indianapolis reported her daughter was taken by her ex-boyfriend last year in Merced County, Calif. The female advised she did not have a certificate of birth for her daughter and knows her ex-boyfriend is in Thermopolis. The female was advised this was a civil issue and was encouraged to contact the Department of Family Services and law enforcement from the county in which this alleged crime took place. 

Saturday, Jan. 14

5:59 a.m. A male reported a burglary in progress at a trailer park. The reporting party said he was allegedly in an active fight with an armed suspect. Upon the officer’s arrival, it was discovered there had been no incident. This male had missed his medication and was found to be hallucinating. He was transferred to the hospital.

Sunday, Jan. 15

1:07 a.m. Jocelyn R. White, 19, was arrested for alleged accessory before the fact, conspiracy to commit a felony, and use of a controlled substance. Jerry W. Merritt, 32, was arrested for alleged aggravated burglary, knowingly inflicting bodily injury, felony status. The incident occurred at Candy Jack Park.

8:55 p.m. Staff at a local swimming pool located a jacket inside their locker rooms with a controlled substance found within a pocket. A notebook with the owner’s name and number was located but the owner did not answer his phone when the officer attempted to make contact. 

Civil Court

Freeman J. Blackburn, driving without an interlock device: licensed under article, first offense, seven days jail, fees and fines $270, and driving while license canceled, suspended, or revoked if not suspended for 31-5-229 or 31-5-233, fees and fines $170, and no compulsory auto insurance, first offense, fees and fines $570 and no registration and improper display of tabs, fees and fines $80, and signal required 100 feet before turn, fees and fines $80.

Tamra Price was bound over to District Court for child where meth is stored, ingested or possessed, possession of a controlled substance, powder or crystal, three grams or less, interference with a peace officer, use of a controlled substance, Schedule I, II or III, and breach of peace.

Skyelor T. Stewart, driving while license canceled, suspended, or revoked if not suspended for 31-5-229 or 31-5-233, fees and fines $450.

Jessica Macie, furnish a child prohibited drugs, first offense, one year supervised probation, fees and fines $220.

Birth

Foster Noble Lewis was born p.m. Friday, December 30, 2022 at Hot Springs Health to Beth and Dusty Lewis.

He weighed 5 pounds, 8.1 ounces and was 19.75 inches long.

Grandparents are Duane and Christie Myers, the late Cindy Myers and Kevin & Renee Lewis.