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, Feb. 24

1:06 p.m. Report of a female choking on food in the bathroom in the 500 block of Broadway Street. Law enforcement and EMS arrived on scene and she had to be transported to the hospital.

Tuesday, Feb. 25

12:31 p.m. Report of littering on easement around property on Black Mountain Road. Deputies documented the scene and created an incident.

9:37 p.m. Deputies performed a bar check in the 100 block of E. Park Street where they identified a 25-year-old male from Worland who is currently on bond for a pending DUI case. This male was presumptively positive for alcohol and in violation of his stipulated bond conditions.

Wednesday, Feb.26

10:05 a.m. Travis Aaron Hatch, 30, from Worland was arrested on a warrant for alleged probation revocation.

10:09 a.m. Deputies responded to the area of E Broadway and C Avenue for a report of a parking problem. Deputies found the suspect vehicle parked legally on the edge of the roadway. Deputies contacted the caller and left a message to notify them the vehicle was parked legally.

10:33 a.m. Deputies checked on the welfare of a elderly year old male in Kirby who was found to be fine.

Thursday, Feb. 27

8:54 a.m. Shoshoni Police K-9 and Hot Springs County K-9 Riggs performed a proactive deployment at the high school. No illegal substances were found.

6:01 p.m. Deputies investigated smoke on East Sunnyside and found there to be a controlled burn in progress. The owners were notified to contact law enforcement dispatch prior to having a controlled burn, so emergency services weren’t pulled away to verify the fire was under control.

Friday, Feb. 28

12:05 p.m. Sheriff’s Office K-9 Riggs and deputies assisted the Police Department.

2:31 p.m. Michael Morris Campbell, 48, from Worland, was arrested for alleged probation revocation.

6:31 p.m. Deputies responded to an area north of town for an abandoned 911 call. Deputies contacted two juveniles taking the trash out who denied the phone number or calling 911 before hanging up. The female guardian called back a short time later and confirmed that one of the boys staying at her house for the night was the one that called.

Saturday, March 1

9:55 a.m. A male requested a civil standby on Jeffs Road. This occurred without incident.

11:01 a.m. A traffic stop was performed in the Wind River Canyon for a driver traveling under the posted speed limit and unable to maintain a single lane of travel. Travis Whitman, 73, of Montana was arrested for alleged second offence driving while under the influence and charged with no insurance, open container (alcohol), and lane use.

4:30 p.m. Deputies observed a driver of a maroon Chevy truck operating a vehicle recklessly in East Thermopolis that turned and began traveling towards Hot Springs State Park at a dangerous amount of speed. A traffic stop was performed at White Sulphur Springs where an 18-year-old male of East Thermopolis was cited for careless driving and no insurance.

5:10 p.m. Agency assist for the Police Department.

5:56 p.m. A 35-year-old male inmate in the detention center was causing self harm and was taken to the hospital. 

Sunday, March 2

12:46 a.m. Report of a crash on East River Road where the vehicle caused damage to a fence. The deputies’ investigation concluded that the vehicle was totaled due to the collision with the fence and a lonesome boulder in the middle of an open field. The cause of the crash was determined to be due to the driver driving at a dangerous rate of speed where there was a loss of control of the vehicle on a curve. The 19-year-old male driver was cited for driving while suspended, second offense no insurance, no vehicle registration, and careless driving.

Police Department

Monday, Feb. 24

8:47 a.m. Police met with high school staff regarding safety protocols. An officer surveyed property and security facilities.

10:16 a.m. Police received a third-party call from a female who reported that a female from South Jordan, Utah, was threatened by a local male who was on probation. Police contacted the female from Utah and created a report. This case is under investigation.

2:30 p.m. Agency assist for emergency medical services.

Tuesday, Feb. 25

8:54 a.m. Police responded to the 500 block of Broadway for a female who had fallen while walking. The female was transported to the hospital.

1:06 p.m. Police responded to the 500 block of Broadway for a female choking on food and was not able to breathe. Emergency Medical Services responded and transported the female to the hospital.

6:11 p.m. Gunner Duray Schepker, 21, was arrested on a warrant with original charges of reckless endangerment with a firearm.

Wednesday, Feb.26

2:09 p.m. Report from a male who was receiving hundreds of harassing calls, text messages, and social media requests from a former female acquaintance. Officers assisted the male with obtaining a stalking protection order and completed a report for possible criminal charges.

3:15 p.m. Agency assist with the Wyoming Probation and Parole office with administering a urinalysis (UA) on a 38-year-old female. The presumptive positive results of the UA were recorded and forwarded to the probation agent.

6:58 p.m. Report of two residents involved in an altercation at an assisted living home. Officers discovered a male had assaulted another male during a dispute by throwing a cup of milk at him while arguing at dinner. A report was created.

Thursday, Feb. 27

1:17 p.m. Police responded to the 800 block of Mondell for the report of an unsecured residential premises. The reporting party informed police that she knows the home to be vacant, but the garage door has been open for the last few days. Police investigated these unsecured premises and determined all was good. Police secured the home.

Friday, Feb. 28

12:05 p.m. Police stopped a vehicle on Broadway for several traffic violations. Upon speaking with the driver, officers observed indicators of drug use and smelled the odor of marijuana. A canine was called to the scene and alerted to the presence of a controlled substance within the vehicle. During the subsequent search, officers located a bong containing 40g of alleged liquid methamphetamine, 3/4oz. of plant-form marijuana and crystal-form methamphetamine residue. Officers further located electronic equipment involved in the cloning of vehicle key fobs, key cutters, saws and other items consistent with catalytic converter theft. John Madison Melbraaten, 40, from Long Beach, Calif., was placed under arrest for alleged felony possession of controlled substance (PCS) liquid methamphetamine, PCS marijuana, PCS methamphetamine in crystal-form, possessing urine to defraud urinalysis, possessing burglar’s tools, unregistered motor vehicle, uninsured motor vehicle, and violation of posted signs, signals, and markings prohibiting thru traffic.

3:44 p.m. A male from South Carolina called the police to make child abuse and domestic violence complaints against a former partner. The male also represented himself as a law enforcement officer, which was determined to be untrue. Police conducted a welfare check and determined the situation to be unfounded.

8:13 p.m. Police received a request for extra patrol of a local business. The request will be carried out.

Saturday, March 1

8:10 a.m. A male called the police for guidance on a custody dispute with his child’s. The event was determined to be a civil matter.

11:32 a.m. A male and female requested officers supervise their child custody exchange. The exchange went without incident.

1:55 p.m. Police responded to a hit-and-run crash involving a cat in the 800 block of Arapahoe. The reporting party stated that an unknown white car had struck the animal and then continued westbound up the hill. The reporting party requested extra speed patrols on Arapahoe and stated that people were speeding all the time.

5:10 p.m. Police responded to the 100 block of Broadway for a domestic dispute. Both parties calmed down and agreed to leave each other alone for the night. A report was taken.

Circuit Court

Makayla Divine Tighe, possession of a controlled substance, powder or crystal, three grams or less, 180 days jail, 166 days suspended, one year unsupervised probation, fees and fines $220, and breach of peace, 180 days of jail, 166 days suspended, six months unsupervised probation, fees and fines $70.

James Whiteplume, breach of peace, 180 days jail, 180 days suspended, 180 days supervised probation, fees and fines $220.

Marriage Licenses

Jeffrey Daniel Rene Lewis & Maddisyn Paige Tjepkes, 2/14/2025