Sheriff report: Deputies respond to Jeep rollover, horse trapped in ditch

Deputies from the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a Jeep rollover at the Darnell Hills Recreation Area Saturday afternoon.

According to Sheriff Ken Blackburn, several young people on spring break from college were “recreating and enjoying” an afternoon outing when a Jeep in which they were riding overturned around 2 p.m.

“The Jeep was being driven on a ridgeline when it slipped to the side, rolled and ended up upside down,” Blackburn said, adding that the Jeep came to a stop 40 to 50 feet below the ridge.

“There were five kids in the Jeep, and all were able to self-extricate,” Blackburn said. “Deputies responded, and all occupants were out (of the Jeep).”

Deputies called for an ambulance, Blackburn said, and one person was transported to North Big Horn Hospital with neck and shoulder injuries and was later life-flighted to Billings in stable condition. The others went to the hospital by private vehicle.

“These were college age kids home for spring break, and alcohol was not a factor (in the crash),” Blackburn said. “The cause is under investigation, but it points to driver inexperience.”

Upside down horse

Sgt. Jeff Angell was on routine patrol early last Wednesday morning, March 19, when, at 7:36 a.m., he noticed a horse upside down in a ditch and struggling, unable to right itself, just west of Cowley on Highway 35. Several members of the community responded to the scene including the Town of Cowley maintenance crew, Sidon Canal District employees and additional deputies.

The assembled helpers were able to get the horse out of the ditch and on its feet and moving until owner Lane Friedly was able to arrive and treat the horse for its condition, likely “a twisted gut,” Blackburn said.

“Many hands make light work, and many people assisted safely without getting hurt,” Blackburn said. “They were able to get the horse turned over and up. It was critical to get the horse moving. If it was a twisted gut, that can be a very serious condition in a horse.

“I commend all of the good Samaritans who helped out. It’s an example of hometown people working together and looking out for each other.”

Other calls

The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office received the following other calls for the week of March 17-23:

March 17: 8:20 p.m. – A report of a cow out on U.S. Highway 14A just east of Lovell was referred to the Wyoming Highway Patrol with no deputies in the area.

10:05 p.m. – Deputies responded to Road 7½ near Cowley to a report of a disturbance. Saragrace Miller, 19, was arrested on a warrant out of Park County and for property destruction and breach of peace.

March 18: 3:50 p.m. -- A caller reported a neighbor’s garbage blowing from their place to his, as well as onto the county road and right of way. The caller was advised to call back if the issue was not resolved.

5:06 p.m. – A deputy noticed a dog out at Main and Heart Mountain in Byron. The owner was contacted and was to retrieve the pooch.

March 19: 3:40 p.m. – Deputies provided traffic control while cattle were moved across the highway on U.S. 14A northeast of Byron.

5:36 p.m. – A Byron man reported receiving a call from a man from India named Raj requesting $5,000 for prescription pills and providing a routing number and account number, asking the money to be sent through PayPal. The man knew it was a scam and contacted the sheriff’s office.

March 20: 1:32 p.m. – Deputies assisted with a fire drill at Rocky Mountain Middle/High School in Cowley.

March 21: 3:02 p.m. – A caller who reported a vehicle driving past his house on Lane 13 near Lovell was informed that a driver has the right to drive on a public roadway.

March 22: 5:34 p.m. -- A reporting party called to advise the sheriff’s office that a man showed up on his porch around 4:30 a.m. asking for assistance after his vehicle crashed near the intersection of Road 5 and Road 7 south of Cowley. The homeowner took the man home to keep him away from his family and called the sheriff’s office. Deputies made contact with the driver, Stefan Jones, 29, of Lovell, and cited him for failure to report a crash, careless driving, open container and no proof of insurance.

March 23: 8:44 a.m. – A deputy responded to a report of a black cow walking alongside the highway on U.S. 310 near the Wyoming-Montana state line. The deputy did not see any livestock, nor did the Montana Highway Patrol when contacted.

12:24 p.m. – A caller reported that she had a large German shepherd on her porch that would not go away. The owner was contacted, and the dog was taken to the animal control shelter near Lovell for pickup.

Joshua Grisham of Powell was pulled over and arrested for driving with a revoked license, driving without a court ordered interlock device and unlawful use of a license.

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.