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

Monday, April 1

7:40 p.m. Agency assist for the Police Department.

Tuesday, April 2

8:44 a.m. Autumn Raini Morales, 28, was arrested for alleged probation sanction.

11:56 a.m. Agency assist for the Police Department.

8:08 p.m. Agency assist for the Police Department.

Wednesday, April 3

3:12 p.m. Report of a juvenile boy who was bitten by an unvaccinated dog. The animal was taken into custody for a 10-day observation at the vet clinic. The 37-year-old male owner was cited for a vicious dog.

7:07 p.m. Driving complaint in the area of mile marker 128 on Highway 20 South.

11:49 p.m. Agency assist for the Police Department.

Thursday, April 4

12:09 p.m. Report of bags of garbage that blew out of a vehicle and were lying on the side of the roadway in the area of Highway 20 North.

11:51 p.m. Deputies responded to an area on Grass Creek Road. William Carlos Bradford, 51, was arrested for alleged domestic battery, strangulation of a household member, and bond violations. 

Friday, April 5

12:24 p.m. Travis Aaron Benson, 48, was arrested for an alleged sex offender registration violation. 

11:28 p.m. Report of a possible drunk driver at mile marker 127 Highway 20 South. Deputies made contact, and the driver was not intoxicated.

Saturday, April 6

10:23 p.m. Francesca Hatzopoulos, 42, from Worland, was arrested for allegedly driving while under the influence and open container at mile marker 135 Highway 20 North. 

11:38 p.m. A welfare check was performed on a female stating she may be overdosing on cocaine and shrooms. The subject was transferred to the ER by ambulance. Possible charges are pending after the Sheriff’s Office gets a warrant for the subject’s blood labs.

3:55 a.m. Neil James Strickland, 39, was arrested for alleged use of a controlled substance, Schedule I, II, or III, and probation revocation.

Police Department

Monday, April 1

3:33 p.m. Report of a fender bender traffic accident in the 200 block of Park Street. No injuries occurred and a report was created. 

7:40 p.m. Police officer observed a truck allegedly speeding while traveling north on 14th Street. The driver of the vehicle subsequently veered towards the shoulder of the road, crashing into two parked trucks at the corner of Clark and 14th Street. A traffic stop was performed on Darrell Ray Swanson, 55, from Cody, who was arrested for allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of the accident unattended, no insurance, failure to obey traffic control devices, open container, and felony possession of a liquid controlled substance. 

Tuesday, April 2

7:55 a.m. Report of a female driver who ran into a parked car in the 100 block of Sunset Ave.

8:22 a.m. A traffic stop was performed on a female driver in the 200 block of South 2nd Street and she was cited for driving while suspended second or consecutive offense, no vehicle registration, and no insurance. 

11:56 a.m. Jeffery Scot Averill, 27, was arrested within the 700 block of Big Horn Street on an active warrant out of the HSC Circuit Court for bond violation. His original charges are unknown.

2:28 p.m. Officers went to the 100 block of Fremont St. to ensure the water was still shut off.

8:08 p.m. A 41-year-old female was cited for shoplifting and trespassed in the 600 block of South 6th Street. 

7:29 p.m. Report of theft of property over $1,000 from a residence in the 300 block of North 5th Street. There were multiple items stolen.

11:49 p.m. Officers responded to the 700 block of Mondell Street for the report of a possible domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, police determined roommates were arguing with each other. There was no evidence of violence and the roommates were separated for the night. 

Thursday, April 4

11:41 a.m. Report of a stolen bicycle in the 400 block of South 2nd Street. The bicycle was found by the reporting person across the street. 

10:03 a.m. Police conducted a welfare check on a female from Riverton who was passing through Thermopolis and had vehicle problems. The female’s welfare was good. Police assisted the female with getting in contact with a family member to pick her up. 

3:46 p.m. Report of an abandoned vehicle that was parked in the wrong direction in the 100 block of Cedar Ridge Drive.

Friday, April 5

3:47 p.m. A 21-year-old male was served a trespassed notice in the 700 block of Modell Street. 

Saturday, April 6

2:14 p.m. A female reported she was being harassed in the 400 block of South 11th Street from her roommate’s boyfriend. During this investigation, law enforcement identified the suspect as Tyson Chase Medina, 21, who had an active bench warrant out of Washakie County. Medina was contacted in the 200 block of South 4th Street and placed under arrest. His original charges from Washakie County were alleged breach of peace, driving while suspended, driving without insurance, and minor in possession of alcohol under 21. Medina also received a citation for alleged breach of peace due to telephone harassment. 

Sunday, April 7

2 a.m. An officer responded to a noise complaint from a resident involving a loud vehicle in an alley. Mirra Alicia Garcia, 27, was arrested for allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and failure to provide proof of insurance. 

4:44 pm. Report of a sexual assault. This is currently under active investigation.

Divorces

Michael Coates Norcutt v. Virginia Coates, April 5, 2024

Circuit Court

Phillip Wunderlich, driving while license canceled, suspended, or revoked if not suspended for 31-5-229 or 31-5-233, fees and fines $440.

Eida Sanchez, possession of a controlled substance, powder, or crystal, three grams or less, 180 days jail, 173 days suspended, six months unsupervised probation, fees and fines $220.

Darrick Andrew Collins was bound over to District Court for burglary.