CASPER, Wyo. — Wyoming drug enforcement agents say they found 170 fentanyl pills in a vehicle last week during an investigation regarding a Natrona County man and his girlfriend.
Natrona County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Tyler Kaufman said that he tried to pull the couple over off Salt Creek Highway last Thursday and that the driver briefly fled before facing a dead-end. The driver, 33-year-old Christopher Lawrence, reportedly obeyed the command to stop and was arrested. The woman reportedly ran out of sight, the affidavit said.
Lawrence was charged in circuit court on Monday with two felony fentanyl charges, one for possession in a felony weight and one for intent to distribute. Bond was set at $20,000 cash or surety.
Lawrence is presumed innocent unless found or pleading guilty. According to court records, the woman has not been charged.
Agents were told by sources in mid-March that Lawrence was involved in buying and selling fentanyl, and that he was known to travel to Colorado for supply. On March 19, DCI informed Kaufman that Lawrence’s vehicle had been spotted off Salt Creek Highway. Both subjects had outstanding warrants, Kaufman noted in the report.
After the attempted stop, deputies found 170 suspected fentanyl pills in a bottle in the vehicle’s center console and about 0.2 grams of suspected methamphetamine in the vehicle. A handgun was also found near the driver’s seat. The affidavit notes that Lawrence is a convicted nonviolent felon and prohibited possessor of firearms.
Lawrence will next face a probable cause hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to advance the case to district court.
