Escapee Takes Stolen Truck on High Speed Chase

It took law enforcement officers from two counties and three law enforcement agencies in Gillette to bring a successful end to the chase of a stolen pickup driven by a halfway program escapee.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol says that when Campbell County Sheriff's Deputies attempted to pull over the stolen pickup Friday morning, the 1 ton dually pickup accelerated and the chase began westbound on Interstate 90.

Troopers from Gillette assisted the deputies as the chase continued into Johnson County at speeds over 100 mph.  Spike strips were used twice to slow the vehicle down but it continued at a decreased speed.

Troopers, Sheriffs Deputies from Johnson County and Officers from the Buffalo Police Department set up roadblocks on the off ramps at the junction of Interstate 90 and Interstate 25.  The truck went off the roadway in an attempt to drive around the patrol vehicles but his flat tires could not navigate the snow and slush so the pickup became stuck.

The driver exited the vehicle with a pair of fencing pliers in his hand and a Sheriffs K-9 was released and tackled the subject who was quickly handcuffed and taken into custody by Troopers.

The subject was identified as 24 year-old Khristofer Crandall.  He was wanted as an escapee from a halfway program in Campbell County.  The vehicle he was driving had been reported stolen from Campbell County the day before.

The chase covered 65 miles. No Patrol vehicles were damaged and no officers were injured during the incident.