Torrington, Wyo. (Story by Denise Heilbrun-Ellis) February 18, 2021 — In mid-December Torrington Dispatch received a call that there was a vehicle pursuit on Highway 26 headed toward Goshen County. According to court records, a brown Saturn passenger vehicle with no visible plates, had fled the scene of a traffic stop in Guernsey.

Answering to the call, Goshen County Sheriff Deputies Michael Staiger and Herbert Irons set up spike strips at mile marker 35 and placed themselves on each side of the highway.
The vehicle was being followed by law enforcement vehicles with lights and sirens on and when the driver saw the strips he stopped and reversed. The driver then attempted to turn around, but then came to a stop in the roadway. The driver then accelerated and headed eastbound toward the strips, then turned suddenly toward Deputy Staiger, who was on that side of the highway. Staiger had to jump to get out of the way of the vehicle coming at him. He discharged his weapon two times at the approaching vehicle as it again swerved back to the south and then eastbound. The vehicle then stopped at milepost 35 and ended up in the south barrow pit facing west.
Deputy Irons approached the vehicle and assisted Wyoming State Trooper Adam Watson as he ordered the driver out of the car and to drop to the ground. Trooper Watson handcuffed the suspect and later identified him as Levi Fales.
Fales was then transported to the Goshen County Detention Center.
The defendant is facing Count one, aggravated battery with a maximum of 10 years incarceration and/or a $10,000 fine; Count 2, aggravated fleeing and attempting to elude a police officer, which carries a maximum sentence of five years and/or a $5,000 fine.
On Feb. 5, Fales pleaded not guilty to both counts before the Honorable Judge Patrick Korell in Eighth Judicial Court.  A trial date will be set later.
Bond was set at $50,000. Fales is still incarcerated in the Goshen County Detention Center.