Update: Suspect has been identified as James Estes of Tampa, FL. He has a warrant for probation violation from Placer County, CA. He is being held on charges related to the theft of the police vehicle, fleeing, eluding and possession of a controlled substance.
On 10-8-21 at 1658 hours, a Rawlins Police Department Officer attempted a traffic stop on a 2004 Harley Davidson for no visible registration. The operator of the motorcycle failed to stop and the officer initiated a pursuit on Spruce St. in Rawlins. The officer was assisted by Wyoming Highway Patrol Troopers and traveled west on I-80. Around mile marker 189, the operator crossed the median, abandoned the motorcycle and fled on foot.
After a brief foot pursuit the suspect was taken into custody, placed in handcuffs and secured in the rear prisoner area of the Rawlins Police Department’s patrol car. The suspect was able to slide his handcuffed arms to the front of his body, crawl through the center partition of the back cage, and stole the Rawlins Police Department’s patrol vehicle.
Wyoming Highway Patrol and a Rawlins Police Officer pursued the vehicle westbound on I-80. The pursuit continued through Sweetwater County to mile marker 119 where the suspect lost control of the vehicle in the center median, exited the police vehicle and fled on foot. After a brief foot pursuit, the suspect who was still in handcuffs, was taken into custody.
The suspect is facing numerous charges in Sweetwater and Carbon County. There were no injuries sustained to the suspect or officers involved.
For more information, please contact Mira Miller, City of Rawlins Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-328-4500 ext. 1022.
