A Worland man has been charged with several felonies including arson following a house fire earlier last week.

Additional charges were filed following a search of the man, Ryan Tate Allen, on Sunday, when he attempted to flee.

According to a press release from the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office, On Oct. 7, there was a residential fire reported at 2569 US Highway 20 in Washakie County. Emergency services and law enforcement personnel from the Worland Fire Department, Hot Springs County Fire Department, Washakie County Ambulance, Wyoming Highway Patrol and Washakie County Sheriff’s Office responded to the location. The fire department agencies were able to gain control of the fire and it was extinguished. An investigator from the Wyoming State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted and responded to the location.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office requested assistance from the Washakie Sheriff’s Office to obtain a search warrant for the property to investigate the cause of the fire.

Wyoming Game and Fish was contacted to investigate possible game and fish violations observed on the property as well.

Wyoming Game and Fish officers obtained their own search warrant for the property and executed, on the same date. Mr. Allen later returned to the residence. The Washakie County Sheriff’s Office arrested Allen for violation of his bond conditions.

There were additional criminal charges filed after his arrest. The initial charges filed were for open container of alcohol and violation of interlock requirement for the vehicle Allen was operating when he arrived at the scene.

The Washakie County Attorney’s Office filed two additional felony charges against Allen; possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) with intent to distribute.

There were 26 grams of suspected methamphetamine and an estimated 100 tabs of suspected LSD seized from Mr. Allen’s vehicle after his arrest.

The Washakie County Sheriff’s Office executed other search warrants for the property. The Sheriff’s Office contacted an agent with Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) when they discovered multiple firearms Allen could not legally possess. The State Fire Marshal’s Office was able to determine the cause of the fire for the residence. Their investigator through the Washakie County Attorney’s Office filed a charge of arson against Mr. Allen. Mr. Allen was in custody at the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office when the charge was filed against him.

Allen made his initial appearance on all the charges filed against him in Washakie County Circuit Court on Oct. 10.

Allen received cash bonds for all the offenses in the amount of $86,000. Allen was released on those cash bonds. There was a federal complaint warrant issued for Allen after his release for violation of federal laws related to possession of firearms. He allegedly violated conditions of his cash bonds by failing to check in to the Washakie County Law Enforcement Center.

On Sunday, Oct. 13, Allen along with a female passenger, later identified as Tandi Marie Vocu, were observed trying to leave his property in one of his vehicles. They fled from the property onto BLM land. The vehicle stopped and Vocu surrendered and was taken into custody while law enforcement continued to try apprehend Allen.

Allen fled from the vehicle on foot. Law enforcement agencies with the Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Washakie County Sheriff’s Office, and Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office established a perimeter to prevent Allen’s escape.

The Big Horn Basin Regional Tactical Team was called out for assistance. The team members are comprised of the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office, Worland Police Department, and Washakie County Sheriff’s Office. Brandon Yule of Worland and the Hot Spring’s County Sheriff’s Office provide the use of their UAV’s or “drones” to assist in locating Mr. Allen. Allen was located and continued to try and elude law enforcement on foot.

Allen later surrendered after he encountered members of the tactical team. He was arrested and transported to the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office jail in Worland. He is being held for violation of his bond and the federal arrest warrant. His passenger was arrested for possession of controlled substances. Allen was charged with possession of controlled substances and interference with a peace officer. Law enforcement located two firearms in Mr. Allen’s vehicle and suspected controlled substances on this date.

The Washakie County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all the law enforcement, fire department, and emergency services who assisted with the numerous incidents involving this investigation. They would also like to take time to thank the law enforcement, emergency services, and Brandon Yule for their assistance with Allen’s arrest.

The cooperation we have with the surrounding law enforcement and emergency services is what makes joint operations work well in our community.

More on this story will be published in the Thursday edition of the Northern Wyoming News.