A high-speed pursuit on Interstate 80 that lasted for nearly two hours came to an end shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Monday about five miles west of Laramie.

Morehead, Kentucky resident Joshua C. Law, 28, was taken into custody at mile post 305.  He was transported to the Albany County Detention Center where he was booked on a charge of eluding, as well as multiple warrants for burglary and identity theft.

Wyoming law enforcement was notified at about 12:21 p.m. Monday that an allegedly stolen 2009 Kia Optima was headed east on I-80 near Rock Springs.  A Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Deputy spotted the car fifteen minutes later at mile post 120, about 11 miles east of Rock Springs.  Backup arrived and officers attempted a traffic stop, but the Kia did not stop–instead, it accelerated up to 130 mph.

The vehicle exited and reentered I-80 several times as the pursuit continued into Carbon County.  Law enforcement deployed stop sticks at mile posts 173, 189, and 201.

The Kia took a median crossover near mile post 222, at which point it was traveling east in the westbound lanes.  The Kia exited I-80 at mile post 228 and the Fort Steele rest area.  The vehicle continued east on a gravel road briefly before careening through a right-of-way fence back onto I-80, where it continued east in the eastbound lanes.

Officers again used stop sticks at mile posts 236, 290, and 297.  By the time the Kia reached mile post 303, all four tires had been disabled.  The pursuit came to an end just a couple of miles later at mile post 305, about five miles west of Laramie.

Law was apprehended without any further incident.  Besides the previous warrants, charges stemming from the pursuit and alleged vehicle theft are pending in both Carbon and Sweetwater Counties.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol says that no injuries were reported in connection with the pursuit that lasted one hour and 46 minutes.  Officers from the Sweetwater, Carbon, and Albany County Sheriff’s Offices assisted in the pursuit.  The Rawlins, Sinclair, and Laramie Police Departments were also involved.  In addition, Troopers of the Wyoming Highway Patrol from Laramie, Cheyenne, Rock Springs, Rawlins, and Elk Mountain all responded this afternoon.

2009 Kia Optima
Wyoming Highway Patrol
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Pursuit Ends Near Laramie
Wyoming Highway Patrol
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