Man arrested after dark high-speed chase

Julien Reeves, a 20-year-old resident of Casper, was arrested late Tuesday after a high-speed pursuit that concluded when his truck left the roadway. Reeves admitted to officers that he should have pulled over and accepted a traffic citation instead of fleeing at speeds estimated at 105 mph with his lights off.

According to an affidavit filed by Mills Police Officer Terry Good, Reeves was charged with eluding, reckless driving, two counts of endangering, and speeding. He appeared in Natrona County Circuit Court on Wednesday afternoon. During transport to the detention center, Reeves remarked that this was not his best moment and that he realized he should have just faced the ticket.

The incident began around 9:30 p.m. when Casper Police Officer Kaysia Skinner observed Reeves racing another vehicle on East 2nd Street. Skinner pursued the truck downtown, but Reeves ran a red light and turned off his headlights and taillights. The truck weaved through traffic at high speed, prompting Skinner to end the chase due to safety concerns. The vehicle headed west toward Mills.

Officer Good joined the pursuit on West Yellowstone Highway after receiving dispatch traffic. He initially estimated Reeves traveling at 85 mph in a 40 mph zone and later confirmed 82 mph with a radar unit. Reeves accelerated to over 100 mph, made sharp turns, and drove the wrong way on the highway. For nine miles, Reeves drove between 75 and 105 mph, frequently turning his lights on briefly to see the road before switching them off again.

The chase ended near Twelve Mile Road when Reeves attempted a sharp left turn at approximately 100 mph. The truck ran off the road, hit the shoulder, and nearly struck a street sign. Reeves attempted to drive further before stopping. He threw his hands out the window, and two female passengers exited with their hands raised. Both girls told police they had repeatedly begged Reeves to slow down and stop.

Reeves denied participating in a street race but explained that he panicked when he saw the Casper officer. He stated that he got into Mills and continued driving because he was trying to get away. He acknowledged that one of the passengers told him to pull over, noting that she kept yelling at him to stop. The affidavit notes that Reeves did not initially realize an officer was behind him until the passenger pointed it out.

Reeves is scheduled for further court proceedings. The two young women in the truck were not charged. Officer Good noted that if Reeves had stopped in Casper, he likely would have received only minor traffic tickets. The truck used in the chase was recently purchased by Reeves.