The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming

Two arrested after pursuit, high speed chase

A Gillette man was arrested on multiple charges after about a 25-mile high-speed chase Saturday morning.

The pursuit involved the Wyoming Highway Patrol and several other law enforcement agencies who tried to stop a gold Chevy Astro van after its driver was pulled over at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Robert Detloff, 37, was pulled over near Rozet on Interstate 90 for a traffic violation.

Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. Colt Lenz said the patrolman took Detloff to his patrol car to look him up. 

While Detloff was in the passenger seat of the patrol car, the patrolman confirmed that there was a warrant for Detloff’s arrest warrant from Campbell County. 

A few seconds later, Detloff ran from the patrol car, got back in his van and sped off. 

A 23-year-old woman was still in the van when Detloff took off toward Moorcroft at speeds topping 100 mph. 

Detloff took the Moorcroft exit, sped under the bridge and got back on I-90 heading back toward Gillette, Lenz said.

While heading west, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office and the Moorcroft Police Department deployed three spike strips on the interstate to try and slow Detloff. He avoided all three by driving into oncoming eastbound lanes at high speeds. 

Detloff then took the Rozet exit and headed south on Adon Road. Lenz said he hit the railroad tracks at about 67 mph and almost lost control of the van. He was able to maintain the van’s balance before hitting Jack Smith Road, where he lost control of the van and flipped it multiple times.

Lenz said officers and deputies found suspected meth and loaded syringes in the van along with other controlled substances. 

Lenz also said the 23-year-old woman cut a bag of suspected Spice and was dumping it out on the interstate during the pursuit. 

Lenz said Detloff is being charged with — but not limited to — reckless driving, speeding, interfering with a peace officer, attempting to allude, resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance. 

The 23-year-old woman is expected to being charged with possession of a controlled substance while other charges are pending.