Drug bust leads to multiple arrests

Just over a month ago, a bust led to one of the largest drug-related cases in the county. Hot Springs County Deputy Jon Bartlett, who has been compiling information about the initial incident and the after effects, said things began on Dec. 21 and are still ongoing, and there is significant evidence to suggest multiple individuals were involved in conspiracy to transport, distribute and use marijuana, methamphetamine and prescription drugs in and around the county.

So far, five subjects have been arrested for controlled substance violations and five have been cited for possession.

On Dec. 21, Bartlett was on patrol at Hot Springs State Park and observed a white Mazda with a large air fan travelling in front of him. As it was a peculiar looking vehicle for the area, the deputy followed it to the Big Spring turnaround, where the Mazda parked next to a truck known to belong to a juvenile male subject. Bartlett knew the juvenile had an extensive history of drug use.

Bartlett travelled around the back side of Monument Hill, through the state park and observed the same truck parked by a Chevy hatchback. After shining his flashlight on the vehicles, the deputy heard someone observe he was law enforcement. At that time, he contacted the individuals, including the juvenile male, an unidentified juvenile female and Teaghan A. Ross, whom he knew to be associated with a male subject involved with marijuana.

After speaking with them, the juvenile male said he just had his tongue pierced and lost part of his tongue ring and they were looking for it. Bartlett went to the back side of Monument Hill again and contacted the juvenile’s probation agent, who informed him he was allowed to search the vehicle. When Bartlett returned to the turnaround the Mazda and the hatchback were gone but there was a Volkswagen known to belong to someone who was selling marijuana in the area.

Bartlett remained in his vehicle on the back side of the turnaround with his high beams on, watching the subjects, and observed the juvenile reach in his truck and retrieve a case, open it, look into it, walk over to the Volkswagen then return to his vehicle. To Bartlett this was indicative of a drug transaction and when he stopped and searched the vehicle he located the case and it had granules of plant form marijuana and an odor of marijuana coming from it. He determined this was probable cause to search the Volkswagen, in which he found a grinder and a pipe. The subjects in the Volkswagen — Zack Hurley and Abigail Schallot — were asked if they had just done a drug deal, but they both denied doing drugs.

Thermopolis Police Officer Mike Mascarro, who had also reported to the scene with officer Mark Allen, did a search on the Volkswagen and located a one-hitter pipe and grinder with plant form marijuana. Based on everything found, the juvenile was informed the officers were going to search his phone. Though he initially refused, the juvenile eventually gave up the passcode. In going through the phone, they located messages from about 6:48 p.m. — about an hour before the search of the Volkswagen — between Schallot and the juvenile about getting and smoking marijuana. Also located in the juvenile’s phone was a text conversation with Shantel Hessenthaler about him obtaining some Hydrocodone pills. The officers were aware Hessenthaler had a relationship with Tanner Boss.

The phone also had a group chat called “Tweeker Chat,” consisting of multiple juvenile subjects. One of the juveniles was contacted, who said it was just a joke and did not know where Boss was. After driving around, the officers located Hessenthaler’s vehicle outside Boss’s apartment. Allen and Bartlett approached the residence, and Allen heard what he described as someone doing a bong rip and people coughing in a way people are prone to with marijuana use.

Using a number from the juvenile’s phone, Bartlett called Hessenthaler and asked her to come outside. When the door was open and Bartlett looked in to determine where Boss was, he detected a strong odor of marijuana and informed Hessenthaler she was under arrest for possession of marijuana; both she and Boss were arrested and taken to the Law Enforcement Center.

Bartlett proceeded to apply for a search warrant, taping the residence off in the meantime. During a protective sweep of the house before taping it off, the deputy saw several liquor bottles and drug paraphernalia.

With the search warrant approved, officers entered the home and during the course of the investigation located multiple pipes and bongs, grinders, packages containing marijuana in plant and cigarette form, a scale, pills and a THC edible. A small combination lockbox was also located, inside of which was a suspected “snort board,” a pick set, a rolled up dollar bill, a key card for a hotel, a pipe made from a pen and a turn signal bulb and a container of white crystalline substance which tested presumptive positive for meth. Based on his training and experience, Bartlett said the kit was consistent with what would be constructed with items to smoke or snort meth. Text messages also indicated this was the juvenile’s and Boss’ method to use the drugs.

A larger lockbox was found containing three knives with suspect residue and other paraphernalia.

During an interview, Bartlett said, Hessenthaler stated she used marijuana for pain management, allowing her to sell or give away Hydrocodone pills.

On Dec. 26, Bartlett and Sheriff Jeremie Kraushaar were discussing the case and one of the suspect vehicles when that vehicles drove by. After affecting a stop, Bartlett observed Teaghan Ross, Ames Tschiffely as well as two juvenile passengers in the vehicle. Ross was asked to step out of the vehicle, and later consented to search the vehicle. Upon putting their heads inside, Kraushaar and Bartlett almost immediately smelled marijuana. Located in the vehicle were the end of a marijuana cigarette, a grinder containing plant form marijuana and a one hitter pipe designed to look like a cigarette. The one hitter is significant as it was identical to one recovered from a case found in Boss’ residence during the execution of the search warrant; one of the pipes was missing from that case.

Both subjects were arrested and denied any ownership of the marijuana in the vehicle.

Bartlett’s opinion based on the evidence found that those involved represent the largest danger to the Hot Springs County community, and the subset of users is now providing meth and opioids to high school age kids and young adults. He further noted many have been observed at the high school and/or the Big Spring turnaround.

Bartlett said the big issue for him is “the kids in the high school that are purchasing marijuana and thinking they’re just having a good time and smoking weed are only a person or two removed from some of the largest meth dealers in the state.” Due to the small community, he said, if a 16-year-old is buying marijuana from an 18-year-old, the older kid could be getting it from someone who is also selling things like meth, fentanyl and heroin. “It’s a scary thing.”