Cheyenne Police Nab Wanted Man After Burglary Leads to Hit-&-Run

A wanted Wellington, Colorado man is facing felony charges in Laramie County after reportedly getting into a hit-and-run accident with a pickup he stole from a Cheyenne construction company.

Police spokeswoman Alex Farkas says it all started around 7 o'clock last Tuesday morning, Oct. 10, when an officer was dispatched to a report of a burglary and vehicle theft at Swagger Construction located at 1603 W. Lincolnway.

"The preliminary investigation shows that the suspect, later identified as Andrew Hanson, 38, of Colorado, entered the property without permission and stole several items to include a white GMC Sierra, a flatbed trailer, tools, and two security systems," Farkas said in a news release sent out Thursday morning.

Farkas says due to the value of the stolen items, detectives were called in to assist with the case.

"At approximately 11:25 a.m., investigators were contacted by a Laramie County Sheriff’s Deputy who received a report of an abandoned flatbed trailer at a residence in the 200 block of East Allison Road," said Farkas.

"Upon arriving at the location, investigators confirmed that the trailer was stolen from the construction company," Farkas added. "It was loaded with boxes of stolen tools and a Jeep Cherokee, registered to Andrew Hanson."

About five minutes later, an officer was dispatched to help with a hit-and-run accident at East 18th Street and Hot Springs Avenue involving a white GMC Sierra.

Upon arrival, the officer contacted Hanson, who reportedly gave the officer a false name before being detained and coming clean about his identity.

When the officer ran Hanson's name, he discovered that Hanson had a fully extraditable warrant out of Wilson County, Kansas for burglary, theft, and criminal damage to property.

Hanson was handcuffed and searched and reportedly had a glass pipe, two baggies with suspected methamphetamine, and a silver key on him.

"The GMC was recovered and two security systems belonging to Swagger Construction were found inside," said Farkas.

Hanson was booked into the Laramie County Detention Center on the outstanding warrant as well as charges of misdemeanor fraud-false identity, misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine, and felony motor vehicle theft, but it wasn't until 9 o'clock yesterday morning, Oct. 18, that he was served with a Laramie County Circuit Court warrant.

The warrant, signed by Judge Thomas Lee on Oct. 17, was for felony burglary, felony theft, misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine, and interference with a peace officer.