(OCTOBER 29, 2015) — A traffic stop on October 26th north of Newcastle, Wyoming has resulted in the recovery of a stolen truck taken from Arkansas. A Wyoming State Trooper stopped the 2010 Ford F-150 pickup truck for speeding 76 mph in a posted 65 mph zone near mile post 246 on US Highway 85 approximately 16 miles north of Newcastle around 2:00 p.m. on the 26th.
While speaking with the driver of the Ford, the Trooper became suspicious through lack of identification and documentation as well as an extremely confusing conversation, that more illegal activity was occurring on the stop other than just speeding. After checking the truck’s vehicle identification number (VIN) with WHP Dispatch, it was revealed to the Trooper that the pickup was stolen out of Johnson, Arkansas.
The driver of the stolen truck was identified as 31 year old Russell R. James. James’ address is listed as Ross, North Dakota. James was taken into custody without incident.
A WHP K-9 was deployed around the truck followed by a search of the vehicle. Troopers located multiple loaded syringes containing a felony amount of suspected methamphetamine in the Ford.
James has been taken to the Weston County Jail in Newcastle and charged with possession of stolen property, possession of methamphetamine, driving while under the influence of a controlled substance and for the initial speeding violation.
The truck had been listed as stolen since February of 2015.