Manderson Police Chief arrested, facing misdemeanors

By: 
Barbara Anne Greene

Manderson’s Chief of Police Brandon “BJ” Kidgell was arrested on Friday, Nov. 15, on charges filed by Big Horn County Attorney Marica Bean in circuit court. Kidgell appeared before Judge Randy Royal the same day and was released following the appearance.

Kidgell was charged with six misdemeanors — two counts each for police interference, neglect of duty and unnecessary delay in serving a warrant. The investigation was conducted by Division of Criminal Investigation Special Agent John McCloud III. A copy of McCloud’s evidentiary affidavit was obtained from Big Horn County Circuit Court. 

The charges tie Kidgell to Dulcie VanVoorhis of Manderson, who was arrested on October 20 and advised deputies she knew of a prior police K9 search at her residence before it occurred. Deputies further tied Kidgell to VanVoorhis following recorded phone calls made between VanVoorhis and her son from the jail, in which he provided her with Kidgell’s personal cell phone number.

VanVoorhis’ warrants were issued on October 11 and came as a result of a K9 search of her home on September 27. Kidgell was further linked to VanVoorhis for having inquired about the status of those warrants, which were active on Oct. 15, 2024. Recorded jail calls between VanVoorhis and her son, and VanVoorhis and Kidgell, revealed Kidgell and VanVoorhis were allegedly intimately and romantically involved.

If convicted, Kidgell could face up to of four years in jail and fines totaling upwards of $4,000. The police interference charge carries a penalty of one year in jail and a fine of not more than $1,000, or both, per charge. The neglect of duty charges carries a penalty of six months in prison and a fine of $500, per charge. The final charge of unnecessary delay in serving a warrant carries a penalty of six months in jail and a fine of $500, per charge.

Big Horn County Detention Center staff reviewed recorded jail calls between VanVoorhis and one of her three children as well as calls between Kidgell and VanVoorhis. The deputies turned this information, and the information on Kidgell inquiring on VanVoorhis’ warrants, over to McCloud for his investigation.

The affidavit alleged that VanVoorhis told the deputies at the time of her arrest on October 20 that she knew a police K9 search of her home (Sept. 13) was going to happen. The Manderson K9 unit performed the search for the Probation and Parole (P&P) team. The K9 search was requested after VanVoorhis’ husband, Christopher, allegedly tested positive for drugs following a routine drug test arrest. P&P contacted Kidgell with the request to use the Manderson K9 unit for the search.

In text messages to her son, which were recovered from VanVoorhis’ phone, on Sept. 12 VanVoorhis advised her son to remove evidence from the family’s residence. It said in part, “Get everything and I mean everything! And anything in any pockets of clothes or in closets or drawers or under couches, etc.! The k9 guy and his dog will be here in the morning letting his dog out in the house if he gets any kinda hit me and ur [sic] dad are gone!” The texts continued, and VanVoorhis told her son to remove “that bong … also anything else that’s in other bags or anything get it all out no bagged no pipes no clothes that have the smell of weed or other drugs on the NOTHING!” She added that her son was to vacuum “every corner and behind all the furniture and on the furniture.”

According to affidavit, “The K9 indicated the presence of controlled substances inside the residence, specifically in the master bedroom.” Drug paraphernalia was also found at the residence. No arrests were made at that time. 

Dulcie and Christopher VanVoorhis had previously been arrested on September 8 in Washakie County for theft. Dulcie missed her court date, which resulted in a bench warrant being issued on September 26. VanVoorhis texted Kidgell that day and said she had been advised she would have, “Bench warrants issued today.” 

In one of the text messages that followed, Kidgell allegedly wrote, “I’ll tell you if we are coming to arrest you! Just don’t answer the door.” He also reportedly texted, “Darold (Newman, Manderson’s K-9 officer) is leaving here shortly and it will just be me on. And I knocked and nobody answer; SO that’s why I’m think before you leave. I guess Worland could call the SO (Sheriff’s Office) here and tell them about the warrants.”

VanVoorhis indicated she was confused as to what Kidgell meant. His response was, “That was the scenario baby! I’d call before I come over.” He then told her to pick her kids up from school like normal, return home and turn out the lights so it would appear that no one was home. He added that she could meet him after he was off duty. The affidavit stated that subsequent text messages indicated that Kidgell and VanVoorhis spent time together at her home that evening.

Christopher VanVoorhis allegedly tested positive for drugs again on a P&P urinary analysis on September 27. A second search of the property by BHC deputies occurred that same day. During the search, methamphetamine was reportedly found inside the home. He was charged with controlled substance related charges that included child endangerment – methamphetamine.

Dulcie was present at the start of the search, but then left. When probation agents contacted her after the drugs were found, she stated she was unable to meet with them at that time.

When deputies attempted to locate VanVoorhis at her residence at 2:14 a.m. the morning of September 28, they observed a Toyota minivan in the church parking lot across the from the home. The van’s registration was in Kidgell’s name.

Deputies returned again later that day in another attempt to locate VanVoorhis. They were unsuccessful. Text messages between Kidgell and VanVoorhis from that day were recovered by forensic technicians. The pair discussed the deputies coming to the home and that she had left just before their arrival.

In a recovered message from September 30, VanVoorhis told Kidgell she left the state because the charges were not extraditable. On October 11, a warrant was issued for Dulcie VanVoorhis for child neglect (methamphetamine) in Big Horn County, related to the search that occurred on September 27.

Recovered text messages indicated that Kidgell and VanVoorhis attempted to determine whether VanVoorhis had any new warrants. On October 15, a Big Horn County dispatcher advised Kidgell of the October 11 warrant. Additional texts indicated the two met and stayed near one another between approximately October 17 and 20. The meeting appeared to have taken place in Montana.

On October 18, Kidgell reportedly texted VanVoorhis, saying he was upset they were not spending more time together. One message said, “I’ve put my career on the line for you!”

In response, on October 19, VanVoorhis texted, “I naked (sic) you what ur (sic) doing and have told you over and over not to risk everything ur about and have asked u what ur doing and if you relize (sic) that your (sic)  risking everything for me and u have told me know the risks and still want to do it.”

VanVoorhis continued, “It’s not like u weren’t completely aware of the risks and everything involved. You chose to do these things babe you can’t use them against me.”

On Oct. 20, in another recovered text, Kidgell allegedly advised VanVoorhis how to travel home from Montana to avoid detection and arrest. 

Kidgell also serves a referee for Wyoming High School Activities Association (WHSAA). A phone call was made to WHSAA Commissioner Trevor Wilson on Nov. 18. Wilson stated he was aware of the situation and had spoken directly to Kidgell. He had no further comment. 

A phone call to the mayor of Manderson, Rod Patrick, was not returned by press date.

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