Affidavit: Car Chase Leads Casper Police Through Fairgrounds

Casper police say a woman fleeing officers drove her vehicle through the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds arena early Wednesday.

Deborah Jean Hawes, 27, was arrested on recommended charges of driving while suspended, driving while uninsured, DUI, attempting to elude police officers, not wearing a seat belt, driving without registration, property damage, leaving the scene of an accident involving property, interference with a police officer and reckless driving.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, a Casper police officer saw Hawes driving a maroon Jeep Cherokee eastbound on CY avenue just before 1 a.m. Wednesday. The jeep had an expired Wyoming temporary tag.

The officer stopped Hawes, who said the Jeep belonged to her sister's boyfriend. Hawes allegedly told the officer she did not have her driver's license and that her name was Angela Clark and gave a false social security number and date of birth.

The officer quickly learned that Angela Clark along with the birthday Hawes gave was not associated with anyone in Wyoming.

Hawes was asked to get out of her vehicle but instead rolled the windows up and sped to the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds, according to the affidavit.

Police say once Hawes reached the fairgrounds, she drove through parking areas and at times drove more than 50 mph all while jumping barriers and eventually driving through the arena itself.

When Hawes couldn't find a way out of the arena, she allegedly drove the Jeep through the western fence and knocked down a 40-foot section of the fence. Officers momentarily lost sight of Hawes and the Jeep.

Canvassing the area, a Casper police officer saw Hawes driving the Jeep near First and Poplar streets. When the officer tried to stop Hawes, she allegedly sped up and struck the bridge over the river. Police allege that Hawes later said she was trying to drive the Jeep into the river to get away.

Instead, she allegedly got out of the vehicle and tried to run away, but an officer quickly caught up to her.

Hawes still allegedly refused to tell police her real name, but they were able eventually to figure it out.

After being taken to the Natrona County Detention Center, police received a search warrant to draw a blood sample from Hawes. She allegedly told police that she had drugs in her system. When asked what drugs she was using, Hawes allegedly told a police officer, "Meth, heroin, pills, weed, suboxone — anything I can put in a needle."

Hawes is expected to appear in Natrona County Circuit Court Wednesday afternoon.