Sheriff report: Deaver hostage situation unfounded

The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office received the following calls for the week of May 26-June 1:

May 26: 12:59 p.m. – A caller reported two suspicious vehicles east of Lovell at the Big Horn Lake causeway “where everyone fishes for catfish.” The caller reported two white cars parked next to each other, a situation the caller saw as “odd.” The cars were there about five minutes and then left.

1:56 p.m. – A deputy on patrol found a seven-foot ladder in the road on U.S. 14A East just west of Big Horn Lake. The officer removed the ladder and took it to the Big Horn County Annex in Lovell. A spokesman said the ladder had not been claimed as of press time, noting, “If you can ID it, we’ve got it.”

10: 31 p.m. – A man complaining about barking dogs on Heart Mountain Street in Byron was told he could sign a citation as a complainant and agreed to do so.

May 27: 9:22 a.m. – A call concerning cows on the highway north of Frannie was referred to the Wyoming Highway Patrol because there were no deputies in the area.

4:05 p.m. – Deputies responded to a report of a horse caught up on barbed wire west of Byron but could see no sign of a horse in that condition.

8:25 p.m. – A caller on Road 7 near Cowley reported that dogs had gotten into his chicken coop and killed several birds. A deputy responded and took photos of five dead chickens and one to two wounded birds. The deputy drove around the area looking for dogs but was unable to locate any.

May 29: 7:24 a.m. – A deputy responded to a report of “cows out on the highway” near Cowley to assist in corralling the livestock.

7:50 a.m. – The Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene of a case of property damage in a dispute where a man did extensive damage to a woman’s Harley Davidson motorcycle. The case is under investigation.

12:05 p.m. – A deputy cleared the highway west of Lovell of the remains of a blown tire.

May 30: 2:55 p.m. -- Though the site was in Park County, a deputy responded to Deaver Reservoir to help some teen girls who had locked their keys in the car.

May 31: 1:43 a.m. – A deputy performed foot patrol on South Division Street in Cowley.

10:53 a.m. – A Powell woman was arrested about four miles west of Byron after her vehicle left the highway, which was called in as a crash, then pulled back onto the highway and continued. A deputy stopped the vehicle and arrested Julia Anne Coulston for DUI and open container of alcohol.

11:46 a.m. – A caller from Thermopolis reported that a friend was being held hostage in the Deaver area, and he “is not interested in paying $65 to get her released.” A deputy responded to the stated address and discovered a house for sale and the house and garage secured and empty. There was nobody home at a neighbor’s house, as well. The case was deemed unfounded and likely a scam.

6:11 p.m. – A deputy performed extra patrol at the Horseshoe Bend Marina at Big Horn Lake.

10:05 p.m. – A caller reported suspicious circumstances at the Big Horn Lake causeway, stating that a man in a vehicle was wearing no shirt, and a woman in the same vehicle was “flipping people off.” The car then drove away.

June 1: 12:13 p.m. – A deputy performed extra patrol at the Spence Oilfield southeast of Lovell.

7:01 p.m. – A deputy responded to a call of cows out on the roadway at Lane 13 and Road 9 near Lovell and put the cows back where they belong.

Note: The above calls were received by the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office. Persons arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and charges made upon initial arrest may be amended or dismissed as determined by the County Attorney.