A Rock Springs man was arrested early Sunday morning and faces multiple charges after allegedly leading sheriff’s deputies on a chase along White Mountain.
Daniel Ray Potter, 21, faces five counts of felonious restraint; felony interference with a peace officer; two counts of misdemeanor-level reckless endangering; driving while under the influence of alcohol, second offense; misdemeanor-level reckless driving, and misdemeanor-level fleeing and eluding police officers and misdemeanor-level operation of vehicle upon approach of authorized emergency vehicles.
According to the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office and court documents, Cpl. Steve Paladina and deputies Mike Klapel and Dave Henderson were parked on Blue Rim Road just before 1 a.m., investigating reports of death threats and assault in the area after receiving a 911 call regarding subjects talking about fighting, marijuana and a person claiming they wanted to shoot and kill another man with “one of the 70 guns he has in his basement.” The caller, Jaden Eliander, stated his friend Jessie Rogers was attacked and beaten by another man.
While deputies were investigating the call, a white Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Potter drove past the deputies’ vehicles at a high rate of speed. The vehicles had their emergency lights activated at the time the vehicle drove by. Eliander identified Potter as the suspect in the assault and Paladino attempted to make a traffic stop, but Potter fled.
The pursuit continued from Wyoming Highway 374 to Wild Horse Canyon Road, then up County Road 53, along White Mountain to the intersection of County Road 53 and County Road 14. Potter’s vehicle failed to turn along a curve, resulting in his vehicle driving into the desert. Paladino approached the vehicle on foot and struck the driver’s window with his collapsible baton and ordered Potter to get out of the vehicle. Potter refused, nearly hitting Paladino with the truck as he drove off.
The truck stopped about 200 yards away from the intersection and Paladino started to resume his pursuit until he noticed two people with visible injuries and covered in blood.
The two were identified as a 16-year-old girl and and 18-year-old Heaven Moss. Both complained of injuries to the face, neck and head. Paladino offered stopped to help the two, calling an ambulance to their location.
The 16-year-old alleged Potter had been drinking and said she and Moss repeatedly asked to be let out of the vehicle, with Potter refusing their requests. Moss told Paladino Potter did not let them out until the vehicle wrecked. Moss and the 16-year-old were taken to the hospital as a result of their injuries. Three other underage girls were later identified as being in the vehicle with Potter and weren’t released until it crashed
The deputies, along with troopers from the Wyoming Highway Patrol and officers from the Rock Springs Police Department searched for Potter, but were unable to locate him.
Deputy Scott Morris located Potter in Green River and arrested him.
Documents state Potter told investigators he fled because he was scared because of his probation for driving under the influence. He said he was drinking that night, stating he drank three beers and four shots of Potter’s.
Reader Comments(0)