State Briefs

More than 200 pounds of pot, THC wax seized in stop

GILLETTE (WNE) — A random traffic stop south of town led to Sheriff’s deputies seizing more than 200 pounds of suspected marijuana and THC wax.

A 43-year-old California man was arrested Thursday afternoon on two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Deputies estimate the combined street value of the seized drugs is about $2 million.

Brett Vaniderstine was driving a white 2019 Nissan Pathfinder on Highway 50. Sheriff’s Deputy Derek Lang caught him speeding 74 mph in a 70 mph zone near Lewis Road, about 10 miles south of Gillette.

Lang said the man’s behavior led him to investigate further.

“It was a random stop, and [Lang] saw indicators, and he called me,” said Deputy Trevor Osborne.

“He was very nervous. His travel plans didn’t make sense. He said he was returning a rental [car] from California to his friend in Wisconsin,” Lang said.

The man handed Osborne a vape cartridge with THC oil in it. He said that this was the reason he’d been acting nervous, and that he wasn’t under the influence and that he didn’t have anything else in the car, Osborne said.

“I went back and explained to him we’re going to be searching his vehicle,” Osborne said.

He was arrested on two felony possession charges and taken to the Campbell County jail. He was traveling with his 11-year-old son, who was placed in the care of the Department of Family Services.

First agreement reached in separation of Gillette, Sheridan colleges

SHERIDAN (WNE) — Northern Wyoming Community College District Board of Trustees approved two significant action steps toward its separation from Gillette College during its regular meeting Tuesday night.

Trustees voted to approve a universal memorandum of understanding between NWCCD and Gillette Community College District as well as an agreement to transfer funds and debt to GCCD.

The documents were created by a joint transition team comprised of three trustees from each district and their respective college presidents. The MOU provides a framework to aid in the process of separation and outlines how agreements on topics such as indebtedness, insurance and employees, among other items, will be documented during the transition period.

As new agreements are reached, they will be added to the MOU and ratified by NWCCD and GCCD. The Wyoming Community College Commission will then review the agreements.

“This milestone is significant because we’re creating the structures that will help us move forward expeditiously but with proper consideration given to each item,” NWCCD President Walt Tribley said.

Trustees approved the first agreement Tuesday, which transfers the balance of funds given to NWCCD in support of Gillette College by the city of Gillette and Campbell County 1% funding ($271,818.02), the Campbell County Board of Cooperative Higher Education Services ($335,535.19), a bookstore fund balance ($65,070.99) and a state matching fund ($207,143) totaling $879,567.20.

“This money was earmarked to be used for Gillette College and gives GCCD the operating budget it needs to move forward with other necessary action steps in the process of becoming its own independent district, such as hiring employees,” Tribley said.

The approved agreement also transfers the debt on Inspiration Hall, the newest residence hall on the Gillette College campus.

Man sought in Mississippi murder found in Shoshoni

CASPER (WNE) — Shoshoni police on Saturday apprehended a man wanted for murder in Mississippi after learning he’d been living in a local motel. 

Kingduron Pyle Jr., was taken into custody late Saturday after he tried to flee from authorities, Shoshoni Police Chief Christopher Konija said in a statement. He was taken to Fremont County Detention Center. 

Pyle, 19, is wanted in connection to the Nov. 1 murder of Shad Reese in Columbus, Mississippi, according the Facebook page of the police department there. 

Authorities located Pyle after responding to a minor altercation in Shoshoni. During that investigation, police learned that a man wanted for murder in Mississippi was living at the Shoshoni Motel. 

Konija asked for help from the Fremont County Sheriff ’s Office, and authorities created a perimeter around the motel while investigating, Konija said in a statement. 

Officers found a photo of Pyle on the Columbus Police Department Facebook page, and various witnesses told them that person was living at the motel. They also found a recent article on the murder. 

When authorities tried to contact Pyle, they spotted a man running from the back of the motel, according to the statement. He was detained after a short foot chase. 

Police in Mississippi believe Reese was meeting with Pyle to illegally buy a gun prior to the shooting, according to The Dispatch, a newspaper in the area. 

Reese, 23, was found dead in a car in Columbus early on Nov. 1. Reese was found in the driver’s seat, according to Columbus police.