CASPER, Wyo (AIEXPRESS) – Multiple law enforcement agencies came together last Friday to target a couple suspected of fueling the methamphetamine and fentanyl market in Natrona County. The operation focused on the Motel 6 located in north Casper.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Christian Cole, 32, and Paige Streweler-Hall, 26, fled in their Mercedes and rammed two law enforcement vehicles before they were eventually captured.
In these matters, individuals are considered innocent until proven or pleading guilty.
On Tuesday, the accused driver, Streweler-Hall, appeared in court to face charges related to the aggravated eluding incident. Cole voluntarily waived his extradition warrant from Colorado for the charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon resulting in bodily injury.
According to the affidavit, he is accused of threatening a family member over the phone. It is reported that he was upset because he hadn’t been invited on a family vacation.
In court on Tuesday, Cole mentioned that he has since reconciled with the individual, who has since moved away. He shared that he was born and raised in Casper before making the move to Denver a decade ago.
On Wednesday, the district attorneys brought forth drug conspiracy charges against the couple once again.
According to an affidavit from an agent of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigations, one source revealed that Cole had transported around 12,000 fentanyl pills and 3.5 pounds of meth from Colorado to Casper sometime around last Christmas.
Agents received information that Cole was attempting to raise funds to secure the release of his girlfriend, Streweler-Hall, who was in jail in Colorado. On the morning of January 12th, they were alerted that Cole was located at the Motel 6 on Wilkins Circle.
Cole and Strewler-Hall exited the room and made their way to their Mercedes. Strewler-Hall took the driver’s seat as law enforcement suddenly emerged.
Strewler-Hall supposedly charged towards the officers and collided with two of their vehicles. Additionally, she reportedly drove over curbs, displaced an unattended vehicle from its parking spot, and disregarded two stop signs.
Before the Mercedes was disabled on North Poplar Street near the Ramkota, two tactical vehicle interventions were implemented. Cole, according to reports, briefly fled on foot.
Judge Nichole Collier issued a warrant, which led to the discovery of approximately 94 grams of suspected methamphetamine in the Mercedes. The vehicle also contained distributive packaging and a notebook filled with balance sheets, as stated in the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, Strewler-Hall is accused of possessing one fentanyl pill, while Cole faces charges for smuggling fentanyl into the jail. This incident resulted in Cole being transported to the hospital.
Strewler-Hall and Cole face charges related to a conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine. Additionally, Cole is accused of possessing a significant amount of suspected methamphetamine in the car. Oil City News will make efforts to acquire the affidavit that supports the conspiracy charge against Strewler-Hall.
Cole was granted a total of $180,000 in bonds, which was to be paid in cash. On the other hand, Strewler-Hall was given the option of either a $100,000 cash bond or a surety bond.
In court, Strewler-Hall revealed her origins in Colorado and her frequent visits to Casper, where she stayed with a family member of Cole’s for the past six months.
