Halloween busy for highway patrol

A Halloween bust scared up more than $138,000 in money believed to have been used in illicit drug purchases Saturday morning.

A traffic stop near Exit 107 in Rock Springs at 10 a.m. Saturday morning started when a 2015 Chevy Malibu was stopped for speeding 80 mph in the 75 mph zone. According to a release from the Wyoming Highway Patrol, conflicting and confusing stories from the three occupants resulted in the K-9 unit getting involved with the stop. The dog alerted its handler to the presence of a controlled substance in the car and the subsequent search revealed two boxes containing the cash and a small amount of a substance the WHP believed to be methamphetamine.

Tong Xiong, 37, of Oroville, Calif., was cited for misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine, but she and her two unnamed companions were released at the end of the traffic stop and investigation. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration assisted the WHP with the investigation and took custody of the seized cash.

A second incident took place later that afternoon, resulting in multiple spike sticks being deployed to stop a stolen vehicle from eluding police.

Thomas W. Wixom, 38 years old, was arrested after a safe conclusion of the pursuit.

At around 3:30 p.m., troopers were advised of a stolen 2009 Jeep Liberty that was traveling east on Interstate 80 near mile post eight just east of Evanston. Troopers located the vehicle near mile post 26 and attempted to stop it five miles further down the highway. Wixom did not stop and accelerated up to 110 mph. 

As Wixom continued to flee eastbound on I-80, additional troopers responded and successfully deployed stop stick tire deflation devices at mile post 59 on the Jeep. The two front tires of the Jeep eventually deflated reducing the speeds in the pursuit significantly. 

After three more stop stick deployments by troopers at mile posts 72, 81 and 86, all tires on the Jeep were deflated.  

With all four tires deflated, Wixom continued east at speeds varying between 10 and 20 mph. At one point, the right front area of the vehicle had caught fire from the lack of a tire. 

Wixom eventually lost control of the Jeep just west of Green River at mile post 88 and crashed into the cable barrier in the median ending the pursuit safely.     

Wixom was not injured and was taken into custody. He has been transported to the Uinta County Jail in Evanston. Wixom was charged with alleged wrongful taking of property, eluding, property destruction, possession of suspected methamphetamine and speeding. 

The pursuit spanned approximately 57 miles on I-80 and lasted 51 minutes. The Jeep had been stolen from Layton, Utah, on the same day of the pursuit along the interstate.