Laramie County Inmate Hurt After Inmate Tries to Take His Cookies

An inmate at the Laramie County Detention Center is facing another felony charge after allegedly trying to rob another inmate of his cookies.

According to a booking sheet, on Tuesday, April 30 at 11:28 a.m., the deputy assigned as the day shift supervisor at the jail responded to a fight in E-Pod.

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The deputy conducted an investigation, which was completed on Thursday, May 2, and developed probable cause that inmate Dakota Edwin Birch, 25, of Cheyenne, attempted to steal another inmate's cookies, which he had purchased from the housing unit vending machine, causing bodily injury to that inmate in the process.

The deputy then sent a probable cause affidavit to the Laramie County District Attorney's Office recommending Birch be charged with burglary with injury, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

As of 10:25 a.m. Friday, May 3, Birch had yet to be formally charged.

UPDATE:

Birch was seen on the burglary with injury charge Friday afternoon in Laramie County Circuit Court.

His bond was set at $1,000 cash and his preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 10 at 9:30 a.m.

Why is Birch in Jail?

According to a booking sheet, Birch was arrested on April 13 after crashing his Subaru Outback into the median near mile marker 43 on Interstate 25 north of Cheyenne.

According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper who responded to the crash, the inside of Birch's vehicle smelled strongly of raw marijuana, prompting a search.

After finding an Altoids Mints tin filled with well over a felony amount of crystal methamphetamine, the trooper reportedly stopped their search and informed Birch that he was being placed under arrest.

Birch then reportedly tried to run away from the trooper, but he tripped and fell, and the trooper was able to grab him and, after a brief struggle, place him in handcuffs.

The trooper then concluded their search, which revealed 30 grams of methamphetamine, 29 grams of marijuana, one partially burnt fentanyl pill, and multiple drug paraphernalia items.

Birch was booked into the Laramie County Detention Center and subsequently charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, and misdemeanor interference with a peace officer - no injury.

His case was bound over to Laramie County District Court on April 22 and is set for arraignment on May 13 at 1:30 p.m.