Vehicle stolen from parking lot

A Wisconsin couple has been transported back to Hot Springs County to await charges related to the theft of 2007 Saturn passenger van. The Thermopolis Police Department utilized social media to alert the community about the theft, as well as security video footage which shows the couple pulling up to the van in a green Dodge, also reportedly stolen from Worland, getting in the can and driving off headed south.

According to information from the Park County Sheriff’s Office, Cody Milton Wallace, 24, whose last known address was Alma Center, Wis. and Tracey Rae Matti, 35, Merrillan, Wis. were arrested after a brief manhunt Sunday evening north of Monster Lake by deputies from the Park County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Cody Police Department.

The Park County Dispatch Center received a call from the Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office on May 20 at 5:32 p.m. and were advised of the theft and that the owner’s cell phone, which was still in the vehicle, was “pinged” 18 miles south of Cody on Highway 120. Deputies from Park County immediately responded. At about 5:45 p.m., a deputy passed the suspect vehicle northbound in the construction zone on Highway 120 and began to follow it north towards Cody awaiting back up officers.

At 5:50 p.m., the suspect vehicle turned into Monster Lake, proceeded around the main ranch area and continued north on a two-track road still being followed by deputies. Eventually, the vehicle veered off of the two-track road and out over open ground. Pursuing deputies were able to maintain visual contact at this time.

After a short time, the vehicle went through a barbed wire fence and stopped. At this time, pursuing deputies were several hundred feet away. After a brief search of the immediate area, Wallace was located and surrendered at 6:37 p.m. However, Matti fled and was hiding somewhere in the area. Deputies and officers from the Cody Police Department surrounded the area and began a systematic search for her. At 8:27 p.m., Matti appeared and surrendered to a Cody Police officer.